diff --git a/package/sysvinit/sysvinit.mk b/package/sysvinit/sysvinit.mk
index 0b827e6152..09aaf741f0 100644
--- a/package/sysvinit/sysvinit.mk
+++ b/package/sysvinit/sysvinit.mk
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ $(SYSVINIT_DIR)/.unpacked: $(DL_DIR)/$(SYSVINIT_SOURCE)
 	touch $@
 
 $(SYSVINIT_DIR)/$(SYSVINIT_BINARY): $(SYSVINIT_DIR)/.unpacked
-	CFLAGS="$(TARGET_CFLAGS)" $(MAKE) CC="$(TARGET_CC)" -C $(SYSVINIT_DIR)/src
+	# Force sysvinit to link against libcrypt as it otherwise
+	# use an incorrect test to see if it's available
+	CFLAGS="$(TARGET_CFLAGS)" $(MAKE) CC="$(TARGET_CC)" LCRYPT="-lcrypt" -C $(SYSVINIT_DIR)/src
 
 $(TARGET_DIR)/$(SYSVINIT_TARGET_BINARY): $(SYSVINIT_DIR)/$(SYSVINIT_BINARY)
 	for x in halt init shutdown; do \