diff --git a/recipes-security/refpolicy/refpolicy_common.inc b/recipes-security/refpolicy/refpolicy_common.inc
index 014714c..1566591 100644
--- a/recipes-security/refpolicy/refpolicy_common.inc
+++ b/recipes-security/refpolicy/refpolicy_common.inc
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ EXTRA_OEMAKE = "NAME=${POLICY_NAME} \
     DIRECT_INITRC=${POLICY_DIRECT_INITRC} \
     SYSTEMD=${POLICY_SYSTEMD} \
     MONOLITHIC=${POLICY_MONOLITHIC} \
-    CUSTOM_BUILDOPT=${POLICY_CUSTOM_BUILDOPT} \
+    CUSTOM_BUILDOPT=${@d.getVar('POLICY_CUSTOM_BUILDOPT').strip()} \
     QUIET=${POLICY_QUIET} \
     MLS_SENS=${POLICY_MLS_SENS} \
     MLS_CATS=${POLICY_MLS_CATS} \