diff --git a/make/target-rootfs.mk b/make/target-rootfs.mk
index bce81a2d..cdc91250 100644
--- a/make/target-rootfs.mk
+++ b/make/target-rootfs.mk
@@ -157,9 +157,12 @@ endif
 
 ROOTFS_TARBALL = $(IMAGE_DIR)/$(IMAGE_NAME)-rootfs.tgz
 
+ROOTFS_TARBALL_EXCLUDE = \
+	./var/update
+
 rootfs-tarball: $(ROOTFS_TARBALL)
 $(ROOTFS_TARBALL):
-	tar czf $(@) -C $(ROOTFS) .
+	tar czf $(@) -C $(ROOTFS) $(foreach exclude,$(ROOTFS_TARBALL_EXCLUDE),--exclude='$(exclude)' ) .
 
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