diff --git a/package/python-pyrex/python-pyrex.mk b/package/python-pyrex/python-pyrex.mk
index 73cb16382..7f424ad35 100644
--- a/package/python-pyrex/python-pyrex.mk
+++ b/package/python-pyrex/python-pyrex.mk
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 PYTHON_PYREX_VERSION = 0.9.9
 PYTHON_PYREX_SOURCE = Pyrex-$(PYTHON_PYREX_VERSION).tar.gz
 PYTHON_PYREX_SITE = http://www.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/greg.ewing/python/Pyrex/
-PYTHON_PYREX_DEPENDENCIES = host-python
 PYTHON_PYREX_LICENSE = Apache-v2
 PYTHON_PYREX_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE.txt
 PYTHON_PYREX_SETUP_TYPE = distutils
+HOST_PYTHON_PYREX_NEEDS_HOST_PYTHON = python2
 
 $(eval $(host-python-package))