diff --git a/srcpkgs/capnproto/template b/srcpkgs/capnproto/template
index 21f6d5ca923..628b76f5a99 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/capnproto/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/capnproto/template
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ distfiles="${homepage}/capnproto-c++-${version}.tar.gz"
 checksum=8082040cd8c3b93c0e4fc72f2799990c72fdcf21c2b5ecdae6611482a14f1a04
 
 if [ -n "$CROSS_BUILD" ]; then
-	hostmakedepends="capnproto-devel"
-	configure_args="--with-external-capnp"
+	hostmakedepends+=" capnproto-devel"
+	configure_args+=" --with-external-capnp"
 fi
 
 post_install() {