diff --git a/scripts/package/builddeb b/scripts/package/builddeb
index b60388051c7f..f903ba947daf 100755
--- a/scripts/package/builddeb
+++ b/scripts/package/builddeb
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ create_package() {
 
 	# Create the package
 	dpkg-gencontrol -p$pname -P"$pdir"
-	dpkg --build "$pdir" ..
+	dpkg-deb ${KDEB_COMPRESS:+-Z$KDEB_COMPRESS} --build "$pdir" ..
 }
 
 version=$KERNELRELEASE