diff --git a/srcpkgs/binutils/template b/srcpkgs/binutils/template
index 60174e5b6c3..7a7966f440a 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/binutils/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/binutils/template
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ pkgname=binutils
 version=2.35.1
 revision=4
 bootstrap=yes
+makedepends="zlib-devel"
 short_desc="GNU binary utilities"
 maintainer="Enno Boland <gottox@voidlinux.org>"
 license="GPL-3.0-or-later"
@@ -11,13 +12,13 @@ distfiles="${GNU_SITE}/$pkgname/$pkgname-$version.tar.xz"
 checksum=3ced91db9bf01182b7e420eab68039f2083aed0a214c0424e257eae3ddee8607
 patch_args="-Np1"
 
-makedepends="zlib-devel"
+subpackages="binutils-doc"
 if [ "$CHROOT_READY" ]; then
 	hostmakedepends="flex perl texinfo"
 	makedepends+=" elfutils-devel"
 	checkdepends="bc"
 	depends="binutils-doc"
-	subpackages="binutils-devel binutils-doc"
+	subpackages+=" binutils-devel"
 fi
 
 _get_triplet() {