diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 55c61569..7e1af0b6 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ define TARGET_MAKE
 	$(Q)( \
 	$(CHDIR)/$($(PKG)_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SUBDIR); \
 		$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $($(PKG)_MAKE_ENV) \
-		$($(PKG)_MAKE) \
+		$($(PKG)_MAKE) $($(PKG)_MAKE_ARGS)\
 			$($(PKG)_MAKE_OPTS); \
 	)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_COMPILE_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ define TARGET_MAKE_INSTALL
 	$(Q)( \
 	$(CHDIR)/$($(PKG)_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SUBDIR); \
 		$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $($(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_ENV) \
-		$($(PKG)_MAKE) install DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) \
+		$($(PKG)_MAKE) $($(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_ARGS) DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) \
 			$($(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_OPTS); \
 	)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_INSTALL_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ define HOST_MAKE
 	$(Q)( \
 	$(CHDIR)/$($(PKG)_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SUBDIR); \
 		$(HOST_MAKE_ENV) $($(PKG)_MAKE_ENV) \
-		$($(PKG)_MAKE) \
+		$($(PKG)_MAKE) $($(PKG)_MAKE_ARGS)\
 			$($(PKG)_MAKE_OPTS); \
 	)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_COMPILE_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ define HOST_MAKE_INSTALL
 	$(Q)( \
 	$(CHDIR)/$($(PKG)_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SUBDIR); \
 		$(HOST_MAKE_ENV) $($(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_ENV) \
-		$($(PKG)_MAKE) install \
+		$($(PKG)_MAKE) $($(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_ARGS) DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) \
 			$($(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_OPTS); \
 	)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_INSTALL_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
diff --git a/package/pkg-utils.mk b/package/pkg-utils.mk
index c667c06a..f8c26089 100644
--- a/package/pkg-utils.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-utils.mk
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ endif
 ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_ENV
   $(PKG)_MAKE_ENV =
 endif
+ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_ARGS
+  $(PKG)_MAKE_ARGS =
+endif
 ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_OPTS
   $(PKG)_MAKE_OPTS =
 endif
@@ -61,6 +64,9 @@ endif
 ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_ENV
   $(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_ENV = $($(PKG)_MAKE_ENV)
 endif
+ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_ARGS
+  $(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_ARGS = install
+endif
 ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_OPTS
   $(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL_OPTS = $($(PKG)_MAKE_OPTS)
 endif