diff --git a/gnu/packages/firmware.scm b/gnu/packages/firmware.scm
index 373ed0e81f..6f0c2da806 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/firmware.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/firmware.scm
@@ -113,7 +113,9 @@ (define-public ath9k-htc-ar7010-firmware
     (arguments
      (list #:target "xtensa-ath9k-elf"
            #:tests? #f
-           #:configure-flags #~'("-DTARGET_MAGPIE=ON")
+           #:configure-flags
+           #~'("-DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=Generic"      ;override default value
+               "-DTARGET_MAGPIE=ON")
            #:phases
            #~(modify-phases %standard-phases
                (add-before 'configure 'change-directory
@@ -140,7 +142,9 @@ (define-public ath9k-htc-ar9271-firmware
     (arguments
      (substitute-keyword-arguments
        (package-arguments ath9k-htc-ar7010-firmware)
-       ((#:configure-flags flags) #~'("-DTARGET_K2=ON"))))
+       ((#:configure-flags flags)
+        #~'("-DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=Generic"         ;override default value
+            "-DTARGET_K2=ON"))))
     (synopsis "Firmware for the Atheros AR9271 USB 802.11n NICs")
     (description
      "This is the firmware for the Qualcomm Atheros AR9271 802.11n USB NICs