diff --git a/share/mk/bsd.subdir.mk b/share/mk/bsd.subdir.mk
index e5c73ac8355..252acea115a 100644
--- a/share/mk/bsd.subdir.mk
+++ b/share/mk/bsd.subdir.mk
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ STANDALONE_SUBDIR_TARGETS+= \
 		maninstall manlint obj objlink
 
 # It is safe to install in parallel when staging.
-.if defined(NO_ROOT)
+.if defined(NO_ROOT) || !empty(SYSROOT)
 STANDALONE_SUBDIR_TARGETS+= realinstall
 .endif