diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/init_funcs.sh.in b/xbps-src/shutils/init_funcs.sh.in
index 796df450cef..ceee611b1a4 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/init_funcs.sh.in
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/init_funcs.sh.in
@@ -41,7 +41,11 @@ set_defvars()
 	else
 		: ${XBPS_DESTDIR:=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/destdir}
 	fi
-	: ${XBPS_PACKAGESDIR:=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/host/binpkgs}
+	if [ -n "$XBPS_HOSTDIR" ]; then
+		: ${XBPS_PACKAGESDIR=$XBPS_HOSTDIR/binpkgs}
+	else
+		: ${XBPS_PACKAGESDIR:=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/host/binpkgs}
+	fi
 	: ${XBPS_BUILDDIR:=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/builddir}
 	: ${XBPS_SRCDISTDIR:=$XBPS_MASTERDIR/host/sources}
 	: ${XBPS_TRIGGERSDIR:=$XBPS_SRCPKGDIR/xbps-triggers/files}