diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 92831a6d4..77ad72294 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ dpkg: ../scst_$(VERSION).orig.tar.gz
 	else								\
 	  buildopts+=(-j4);						\
 	fi &&								\
-	debuild "$${buildopts[@]}" --lintian-opts --profile debian &&   \
+	DEB_KVER_SET=$(KVER) DEB_KDIR_SET=$(KDIR) debuild "$${buildopts[@]}" --lintian-opts --profile debian && \
 	mkdir -p dpkg &&						\
 	for f in "$${output_files[@]}" ../scst_$(VERSION).orig.tar.[gx]z; do\
 		mv $$f dpkg || true;					\
diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index f78e364a0..8342862e9 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ SUBDIRS=scst fcst iscsi-scst qla2x00t/qla2x00-target scst_local scstadmin srpt
 DESTDIR=$(CURDIR)/debian/tmp
 VERSION:=$(shell head -n1 debian/changelog | sed 's/.*(\([0-9.]*\).*).*/\1/')
 
+# rules won't see variables unless they're using DEB_foo_SET syntax. So use that as
+# an intermediary. Also, export variables for sub-makes to be able to see them.
+export KVER=$(DEB_KVER_SET)
+export KDIR=$(DEB_KDIR_SET)
+
 %:
 	echo "*** dh $@ ***"
 	dh $@