diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/tar/Makefile.inc b/gnu/usr.bin/tar/Makefile.inc
index 4d05b960f476..42dcec242f46 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/tar/Makefile.inc
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/tar/Makefile.inc
@@ -2,3 +2,11 @@
 
 TARDIR=	${.CURDIR}/../../../../contrib/tar
 TARCFLAGS= -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I${.CURDIR}/.. -I${TARDIR}/lib
+
+# Inherit BINDIR from one level up.
+.if !target(__foobar__)
+__foobar__:
+.if exists(../Makefile.inc)
+.include "../Makefile.inc"
+.endif
+.endif