diff --git a/srcpkgs/nfs-utils/template b/srcpkgs/nfs-utils/template
index 1f08f9bf659..5b62e8d1343 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/nfs-utils/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/nfs-utils/template
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ make_dirs="
 "
 
 pre_build() {
+	if [ "$CROSS_BUILD" ]; then
+		sed -i '/SUBDIRS/s,tools,,' Makefile.in
+	fi
 	case "$XBPS_TARGET_MACHINE" in
 	*-musl)
-		sed -i '/SUBDIRS/s,tools,,' Makefile.in
 		cd tools/rpcgen
 		make CC=cc CFLAGS= CPPFLAGS= LDFLAGS= ${makejobs}
 		;;