diff --git a/yocto-poky/meta/classes/package_tar.bbclass b/yocto-poky/meta/classes/package_tar.bbclass
index f9e2292..854e645 100644
--- a/yocto-poky/meta/classes/package_tar.bbclass
+++ b/yocto-poky/meta/classes/package_tar.bbclass
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 
 python () {
     if d.getVar('PACKAGES', True) != '':
-        deps = (d.getVarFlag('do_package_write_tar', 'depends') or "").split()
+        deps = (d.getVarFlag('do_package_write_tar', 'depends', True) or "").split()
         deps.append('tar-native:do_populate_sysroot')
         deps.append('virtual/fakeroot-native:do_populate_sysroot')
         d.setVarFlag('do_package_write_tar', 'depends', " ".join(deps))