diff --git a/share/mk/local.meta.sys.mk b/share/mk/local.meta.sys.mk
index 85e41899602..20c3974fc4f 100644
--- a/share/mk/local.meta.sys.mk
+++ b/share/mk/local.meta.sys.mk
@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ TOOLSDIR?= ${HOST_OBJTOP}/tools
 .elif defined(STAGE_HOST_OBJTOP) && exists(${STAGE_HOST_OBJTOP}/usr/bin)
 TOOLSDIR?= ${STAGE_HOST_OBJTOP}
 .endif
+.if !empty(TOOLSDIR)
 .if ${.MAKE.LEVEL} == 0 && exists(${TOOLSDIR}/usr/bin)
 PATH:= ${PATH:S,:, ,g:@d@${exists(${TOOLSDIR}$d):?${TOOLSDIR}$d:}@:ts:}:${PATH}
 .export PATH
@@ -224,6 +225,7 @@ CXX?= ${TOOLSDIR}/usr/bin/c++
 .export HOST_CC CC CXX
 .endif
 .endif
+.endif
 
 .if ${MACHINE:Nhost:Ncommon} != "" && ${MACHINE} != ${HOST_MACHINE}
 # cross-building