vonsh specifies `$(MAKE) debug` for building the package and hence does not pass the relevant cross compiler to the Makefile. It is rather easier to just use dh_auto_build which takes care of this and also use buildsystem as makefile as an enhancement. Please consider to apply the patch pasted below. diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules index 2efd498..5c80992 100755 --- a/debian/rules +++ b/debian/rules @@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ export VERSION_STR=$(DEB_VERSION) export STRIP=true %: - dh $@ + dh $@ --buildsystem=makefile override_dh_auto_build: - $(MAKE) debug + dh_auto_build -- debug override_dh_builddeb: dh_builddeb -- -Zxz