diff --git a/package/swupdate/swupdate.mk b/package/swupdate/swupdate.mk
index d96a0c2e07..b5fd97568f 100644
--- a/package/swupdate/swupdate.mk
+++ b/package/swupdate/swupdate.mk
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ SWUPDATE_LICENSE_FILES = Licenses/Exceptions Licenses/gpl-2.0.txt \
 # swupdate uses $CROSS-cc instead of $CROSS-gcc, which is not
 # available in all external toolchains, and use CC for linking. Ensure
 # TARGET_CC is used for both.
-SWUPDATE_MAKE_ENV = CC="$(TARGET_CC)" LD="$(TARGET_CC)"
+SWUPDATE_MAKE_ENV = CC="$(TARGET_CC)" LD="$(TARGET_CC)" SKIP_STRIP=y
 
 # swupdate bundles its own version of mongoose (version 6.16)