diff --git a/emulators/linux_base-c6/Makefile b/emulators/linux_base-c6/Makefile
index 097ddf154a36..d7c4b34822b7 100644
--- a/emulators/linux_base-c6/Makefile
+++ b/emulators/linux_base-c6/Makefile
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ EXTRACT_AFTER_ARGS?=	| ${CPIO} -id --quiet
 
 .include <bsd.port.pre.mk>
 
+.if !defined(PACKAGE_BUILDING) || (defined(PACKAGE_BUILDING) && !defined(LINUX_OSRELEASE) )
 LINUX_OSRELEASE!=	${ECHO_CMD} `${SYSCTL} -n compat.linux.osrelease 2>/dev/null`
+.endif
 
 .if ${LINUX_OSRELEASE}x == "x"
 IGNORE=			linuxulator is not (kld)loaded
diff --git a/emulators/linux_base-f10/Makefile b/emulators/linux_base-f10/Makefile
index 097ddf154a36..d7c4b34822b7 100644
--- a/emulators/linux_base-f10/Makefile
+++ b/emulators/linux_base-f10/Makefile
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ EXTRACT_AFTER_ARGS?=	| ${CPIO} -id --quiet
 
 .include <bsd.port.pre.mk>
 
+.if !defined(PACKAGE_BUILDING) || (defined(PACKAGE_BUILDING) && !defined(LINUX_OSRELEASE) )
 LINUX_OSRELEASE!=	${ECHO_CMD} `${SYSCTL} -n compat.linux.osrelease 2>/dev/null`
+.endif
 
 .if ${LINUX_OSRELEASE}x == "x"
 IGNORE=			linuxulator is not (kld)loaded
diff --git a/emulators/linux_dist-gentoo-stage3/Makefile b/emulators/linux_dist-gentoo-stage3/Makefile
index 42370f54ff2f..4439201d735f 100644
--- a/emulators/linux_dist-gentoo-stage3/Makefile
+++ b/emulators/linux_dist-gentoo-stage3/Makefile
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ PREFIX_SUBDIR=	${PORTNAME}/
 
 .include <bsd.port.pre.mk>
 
+.if !defined(PACKAGE_BUILDING) || (defined(PACKAGE_BUILDING) && !defined(LINUX_OSRELEASE) )
 LINUX_OSRELEASE!=	${ECHO_CMD} `${SYSCTL} -n compat.linux.osrelease 2>/dev/null`
+.endif
 
 .if ${LINUX_OSRELEASE}x == "x"
 IGNORE=			linuxulator is not (kld)loaded