diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index de1f9b903..2e48605f1 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ linux-2.6 (2.6.29~rc5-1~experimental.1) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
     RADIO_TEA5764, SND_HDA_CODEC_INTELHDMI, RT2860, RT2870, RTL8187SE.
   * topconfig enable SND_HDA_HWDEP for sound debugging purpose.
 
+  [ Bastian Blank ]
+  * Use external source directory for all builds.
+
  -- maximilian attems <maks@debian.org>  Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:25:20 +0100
 
 linux-2.6 (2.6.28-2) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
diff --git a/debian/rules.real b/debian/rules.real
index a6b338e17..8d13edddc 100644
--- a/debian/rules.real
+++ b/debian/rules.real
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ $(STAMPS_DIR)/setup_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR): SOURCE_DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/so
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/setup_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR): DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/setup_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR): $(BUILD_DIR)/config.$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR) $(STAMPS_DIR)/source_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)
 	rm -rf '$(DIR)'
-	cp -al '$(SOURCE_DIR)' '$(DIR)'
+	mkdir '$(DIR)'
 	cp '$(CONFIG)' '$(DIR)/.config'
 	echo '$(ABINAME)$(LOCALVERSION_IMAGE)' > '$(DIR)/localversion'
 	echo 'override ARCH = $(KERNEL_ARCH)' >> '$(DIR)/.kernelvariables'
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ endif
 ifdef CFLAGS
 	echo 'CFLAGS += $(CFLAGS)'  >> '$(DIR)/.kernelvariables'
 endif
-	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C '$(DIR)' reportoldconfig
-	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C '$(DIR)' $(JOBS_ARG) prepare
+	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C '$(SOURCE_DIR)' O='$(CURDIR)/$(DIR)' reportoldconfig
+	+$(MAKE_CLEAN) -C '$(SOURCE_DIR)' O='$(CURDIR)/$(DIR)' $(JOBS_ARG) prepare
 	touch '$@'
 
 $(STAMPS_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)_$(TYPE): DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR)
@@ -244,13 +244,13 @@ install-headers_$(ARCH)_$(FEATURESET)_$(FLAVOUR): $(STAMPS_DIR)/build_$(ARCH)_$(
 		-type d -a ! -name include -a ! -name kernel -o \
 		-type f -a \( -name 'Makefile*' -o -name 'Kconfig*' -o -name "module.lds" \) \
 		-printf "../../../$(PACKAGE_NAME_HEADERS)/%p\n" | \
-		xargs ln -s --target-directory='$(CURDIR)'/$(DIR)/arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)
+		xargs -r ln -s --target-directory='$(CURDIR)'/$(DIR)/arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)
 
 	cd $(SOURCE_DIR); \
 	find arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)/kernel -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 \
 		-type f -a \( -name 'Makefile*' -o -name 'Kconfig*' -o -name "module.lds" \) \
 		-printf "../../../../$(PACKAGE_NAME_HEADERS)/%p\n" | \
-		xargs ln -s --target-directory='$(CURDIR)'/$(DIR)/arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)/kernel
+		xargs -r ln -s --target-directory='$(CURDIR)'/$(DIR)/arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)/kernel
 
 	[ -d $(SOURCE_DIR)/arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)/include ] && \
 		cp -a $(SOURCE_DIR)/arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)/include $(DIR)/arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)/include || :
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ endif
 	find include -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 \
 		! -name config -a ! -name linux -a ! -name 'asm*' \
 		-printf "../../$(PACKAGE_NAME_HEADERS)/%p\n" | \
-		xargs ln -s --target-directory='$(CURDIR)'/$(DIR)/include
+		xargs -r ln -s --target-directory='$(CURDIR)'/$(DIR)/include
 	cp -a $(SOURCE_DIR)/include/config $(DIR)/include
 	
 	ln -sf asm-$(KERNEL_ARCH) $(DIR)/include/asm