diff --git a/package/utils/mdadm/Makefile b/package/utils/mdadm/Makefile
index f20a58b704..f6696bf21c 100644
--- a/package/utils/mdadm/Makefile
+++ b/package/utils/mdadm/Makefile
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ TARGET_CFLAGS += \
 
 TARGET_LDFLAGS += -Wl,--gc-sections
 
-MAKE_VARS += CHECK_RUN_DIR=0
+MAKE_FLAGS += CHECK_RUN_DIR=0
 
 define Build/Compile
 	$(call Build/Compile/Default,mdadm)