diff --git a/build-data/packages/vnet.mk b/build-data/packages/vnet.mk
index 0486b4e..2ff9034 100644
--- a/build-data/packages/vnet.mk
+++ b/build-data/packages/vnet.mk
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@
 vnet_configure_args += $(vnet_configure_args_$(PLATFORM))
 
 ifneq ($($(PLATFORM)_uses_dpdk),no)
+ifeq ($($(PLATFORM)_uses_external_dpdk),yes)
+vnet_CPPFLAGS += -I$($(PLATFORM)_dpdk_inc_dir)
+vnet_LDFLAGS += -L$($(PLATFORM)_dpdk_lib_dir)
+else
 vnet_configure_depend += dpdk-install
 vnet_CPPFLAGS += $(call installed_includes_fn, dpdk)
 vnet_LDFLAGS += $(call installed_libs_fn, dpdk)
 endif
+endif