diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/siggen.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/siggen.py
index b04a8bcecc..d0a4d18e0e 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/siggen.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/siggen.py
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ def dump_this_task(outfile, d):
 
 def clean_basepath(a):
     if a.startswith("virtual:"):
-        b = a.rsplit(":", 1)[0] + a.rsplit("/", 1)[1]
+        b = a.rsplit(":", 1)[0] + ":" + a.rsplit("/", 1)[1]
     else:
         b = a.rsplit("/", 1)[1]
     return b