diff --git a/package/base-files/Makefile b/package/base-files/Makefile
index 6da3df2b4ea775..58ad08c63a082b 100644
--- a/package/base-files/Makefile
+++ b/package/base-files/Makefile
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ define Package/base-files/install
 	mkdir -p $(1)/www
 	mkdir -p $(1)/root
 	$(LN) /proc/mounts $(1)/etc/mtab
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_TARGET_ROOTFS_PERSIST_VAR),n)
+ifneq ($(CONFIG_TARGET_ROOTFS_PERSIST_VAR),y)
 	rm -f $(1)/var
 	$(LN) tmp $(1)/var
 else