diff --git a/package/webkitgtk/webkitgtk.mk b/package/webkitgtk/webkitgtk.mk
index 56277a0a0a..3e9d42c7c3 100644
--- a/package/webkitgtk/webkitgtk.mk
+++ b/package/webkitgtk/webkitgtk.mk
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ WEBKITGTK_CPE_ID_VENDOR = webkitgtk
 WEBKITGTK_DEPENDENCIES = host-ruby host-python3 host-gperf host-unifdef \
 	enchant harfbuzz icu jpeg libgcrypt libgtk3 libsecret libsoup \
 	libtasn1 libxml2 libxslt openjpeg sqlite webp woff2
+
+WEBKITGTK_CMAKE_BACKEND = ninja
+
 WEBKITGTK_CONF_OPTS = \
 	-DENABLE_API_TESTS=OFF \
 	-DENABLE_DOCUMENTATION=OFF \
@@ -140,23 +143,4 @@ ifeq ($(BR2_ARM_CPU_ARMV5)$(BR2_ARM_CPU_ARMV6)$(BR2_MIPS_CPU_MIPS32R6)$(BR2_MIPS
 WEBKITGTK_CONF_OPTS += -DENABLE_JIT=OFF -DENABLE_C_LOOP=ON -DENABLE_SAMPLING_PROFILER=OFF
 endif
 
-# webkitgtk needs cmake >= 3.20 when not building with ninja, which is
-# above our minimal version in
-# support/dependencies/check-host-cmake.mk, so use the ninja backend:
-# https://github.com/WebKit/WebKit/commit/6cd89696b5d406c1a3d9a7a9bbb18fda9284fa1f
-WEBKITGTK_CONF_OPTS += -GNinja
-WEBKITGTK_DEPENDENCIES += host-ninja
-
-define WEBKITGTK_BUILD_CMDS
-	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(BR2_CMAKE) --build $(WEBKITGTK_BUILDDIR)
-endef
-
-define WEBKITGTK_INSTALL_STAGING_CMDS
-	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) DESTDIR=$(STAGING_DIR) $(BR2_CMAKE) --install $(WEBKITGTK_BUILDDIR)
-endef
-
-define WEBKITGTK_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS
-	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) $(BR2_CMAKE) --install $(WEBKITGTK_BUILDDIR)
-endef
-
 $(eval $(cmake-package))