diff --git a/rules.mk b/rules.mk
index 8a4254e638c..dd375ff3d51 100644
--- a/rules.mk
+++ b/rules.mk
@@ -243,20 +243,13 @@ HOST_CXXFLAGS:=
 HOST_CFLAGS:=-O2 $(HOST_CPPFLAGS)
 HOST_LDFLAGS:=-L$(STAGING_DIR_HOST)/lib $(if $(IS_PACKAGE_BUILD),-L$(STAGING_DIR_HOSTPKG)/lib -L$(STAGING_DIR)/host/lib)
 
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAIN),)
-  TARGET_AR:=$(TARGET_CROSS)gcc-ar
-  TARGET_RANLIB:=$(TARGET_CROSS)gcc-ranlib
-  TARGET_NM:=$(TARGET_CROSS)gcc-nm
-else
-  TARGET_AR:=$(TARGET_CROSS)ar
-  TARGET_RANLIB:=$(TARGET_CROSS)ranlib
-  TARGET_NM:=$(TARGET_CROSS)nm
-endif
-
 BUILD_KEY=$(TOPDIR)/key-build
 
 FAKEROOT:=$(STAGING_DIR_HOST)/bin/fakeroot
 
+TARGET_AR:=$(TARGET_CROSS)gcc-ar
+TARGET_RANLIB:=$(TARGET_CROSS)gcc-ranlib
+TARGET_NM:=$(TARGET_CROSS)gcc-nm
 TARGET_CC:=$(TARGET_CROSS)gcc
 TARGET_CXX:=$(TARGET_CROSS)g++
 KPATCH:=$(SCRIPT_DIR)/patch-kernel.sh