diff --git a/meta/recipes-devtools/dpkg/dpkg.inc b/meta/recipes-devtools/dpkg/dpkg.inc
index 6eec2cde9e..3d9e7e3058 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-devtools/dpkg/dpkg.inc
+++ b/meta/recipes-devtools/dpkg/dpkg.inc
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ EXTRA_OECONF = "\
 		--without-selinux \
 		"
 
-EXTRA_OECONF_append_class-target = " TAR=tar"
+EXTRA_OECONF += "TAR=tar"
 
 do_configure () {
     echo >> ${S}/m4/compiler.m4