diff --git a/RepositoryExternal.mk b/RepositoryExternal.mk
index ef79b1dd350a..5b497eeb35cd 100644
--- a/RepositoryExternal.mk
+++ b/RepositoryExternal.mk
@@ -1578,6 +1578,7 @@ $(call gb_ExternalProject_use_package,$(1),openssl)
 endef
 
 define gb_LinkTarget__use_openssl_headers
+$(call gb_LinkTarget_use_external_project,$(1),openssl)
 $(call gb_LinkTarget_set_include,$(1),\
 	-I$(call gb_UnpackedTarball_get_dir,openssl)/include \
 	$$(INCLUDE) \