diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 38219ce088..b233b07548 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_downloaded:
 			break ; \
 		fi ; \
 	done
-	$(call DOWNLOAD,$($(PKG)_MAIN_DOWNLOAD),$(PKG),$(patsubst %,-p '%',$($(PKG)_DOWNLOAD_POST_PROCESS)))
+	$(if $($(PKG)_MAIN_DOWNLOAD),$(call DOWNLOAD,$($(PKG)_MAIN_DOWNLOAD),$(PKG),$(patsubst %,-p '%',$($(PKG)_DOWNLOAD_POST_PROCESS))))
 	$(foreach p,$($(PKG)_ADDITIONAL_DOWNLOADS),$(call DOWNLOAD,$(p),$(PKG))$(sep))
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_DOWNLOAD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 	$(Q)mkdir -p $(@D)