diff --git a/meta/classes/package.bbclass b/meta/classes/package.bbclass
index fdcf5ff179..854591bb7d 100644
--- a/meta/classes/package.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/package.bbclass
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ def do_split_packages(d, root, file_regex, output_pattern, description, postinst
     """
 
     dvar = d.getVar('PKGD', True)
+    root = d.expand(root)
+    output_pattern = d.expand(output_pattern)
 
     # If the root directory doesn't exist, don't error out later but silently do
     # no splitting.