diff --git a/package/zfs/zfs.mk b/package/zfs/zfs.mk
index 6ea3d22ba5..c7b0ed0407 100644
--- a/package/zfs/zfs.mk
+++ b/package/zfs/zfs.mk
@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@ else
 ZFS_CONF_OPTS += --disable-pam
 endif
 
+# Sets the environment for the `make` that will be run ZFS autotools checks.
+ZFS_CONF_ENV += \
+	ARCH=$(KERNEL_ARCH) \
+	CROSS_COMPILE="$(TARGET_CROSS)"
+ZFS_MAKE_ENV += \
+	ARCH=$(KERNEL_ARCH) \
+	CROSS_COMPILE="$(TARGET_CROSS)"
+
 # ZFS userland tools are unfunctional without the Linux kernel modules.
 ZFS_MODULE_SUBDIRS = \
 	module/avl \