diff --git a/Makefile.config.in b/Makefile.config.in
index 63f4c4cf..ec9e1bab 100644
--- a/Makefile.config.in
+++ b/Makefile.config.in
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ INSTALL_PROGRAM = @INSTALL_PROGRAM@ $(AM_INSTALL_PROGRAM_FLAGS)
 INSTALL_DATA = @INSTALL_DATA@
 INSTALL_SCRIPT = @INSTALL_SCRIPT@
 
+host = @host@
+
 ASCIIDOC = @ASCIIDOC@
 AWK = @AWK@
 CATALOGS = @CATALOGS@
diff --git a/src/intl/gettext/Makefile b/src/intl/gettext/Makefile
index ee96a583..e9f8abb9 100644
--- a/src/intl/gettext/Makefile
+++ b/src/intl/gettext/Makefile
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ OBJS = \
 
 # $(builddir)/charset.alias: $(srcdir)/config.charset
 $(builddir)/charset.alias: $(srcdir)/config.charset
-	$(SHELL) $(srcdir)/config.charset '@host@' > $@.new
+	$(SHELL) $(srcdir)/config.charset '$(host)' > $@.new
 	mv $@.new $@
 
 # FIXME: Building plural.c from plural.y on the fly doesn't work