diff --git a/package/uvw/uvw.mk b/package/uvw/uvw.mk
index 64122aea44..2e46721b52 100644
--- a/package/uvw/uvw.mk
+++ b/package/uvw/uvw.mk
@@ -13,4 +13,8 @@ UVW_DEPENDENCIES = libuv
 UVW_LICENSE = MIT
 UVW_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
 
+# The following CMake variable disables a TRY_RUN call in the -pthread
+# test which is not allowed when cross-compiling (for cmake < 3.10)
+UVW_CONF_OPTS = -DTHREADS_PTHREAD_ARG=OFF
+
 $(eval $(cmake-package))