diff --git a/tools/m4/Makefile b/tools/m4/Makefile
index 6470a549a5..fa7ed79d12 100644
--- a/tools/m4/Makefile
+++ b/tools/m4/Makefile
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ PKG_SOURCE_URL:=@GNU/$(PKG_NAME)
 PKG_MD5SUM:=a5dfb4f2b7370e9d34293d23fd09b280
 PKG_CAT:=zcat
 
+HOST_BUILD_PARALLEL:=1
+
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/host-build.mk
 
 HOST_LDFLAGS += $(HOST_STATIC_LINKING)