diff --git a/package/microcom/Makefile b/package/microcom/Makefile
index b6b2ac1e2..493f57ddf 100644
--- a/package/microcom/Makefile
+++ b/package/microcom/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ PKG_MD5SUM:=c7817035dc41cb02e7cfb565cf9b7401
 
 PKG_SOURCE_URL:=http://microcom.port5.com/
 PKG_SOURCE:=m$(PKG_FILEVERSION).tar.gz
-PKG_CAT:=zcat
 
 PKG_BUILD_DIR:=$(BUILD_DIR)/$(PKG_NAME)-$(PKG_VERSION)
 PKG_INSTALL_DIR:=$(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/ipkg-install
@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ $(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/.prepared:
 	rm -rf $(PKG_BUILD_DIR)
 	mkdir -p $(PKG_BUILD_DIR)
 	# the .tar.gz is different - no subdirectory, so do this manually
-	$(PKG_CAT) $(DL_DIR)/$(PKG_SOURCE) | tar -C $(PKG_BUILD_DIR) $(TAR_OPTIONS) -
+	zcat $(DL_DIR)/$(PKG_SOURCE) | tar -C $(PKG_BUILD_DIR) $(TAR_OPTIONS) -
 	touch $@
 
 $(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/.configured: