diff --git a/package/freetype/freetype.mk b/package/freetype/freetype.mk
index 0de5ce3ded..56274cb436 100644
--- a/package/freetype/freetype.mk
+++ b/package/freetype/freetype.mk
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ HOST_FREETYPE_POST_INSTALL_HOOKS += HOST_FREETYPE_FIX_FREETYPE_INCLUDE
 $(eval $(autotools-package))
 $(eval $(host-autotools-package))
 
-# freetype-patch uses autogen.sh so add it as a order-only-prerequisite
-# because it is a phony target.
-$(FREETYPE_TARGET_PATCH): | host-automake
+# freetype-patch and host-freetype-patch use autogen.sh so add
+# host-automake as a order-only-prerequisite because it is a phony
+# target.
+$(FREETYPE_TARGET_PATCH) $(HOST_FREETYPE_TARGET_PATCH): | host-automake