diff --git a/meta/lib/oe/packagedata.py b/meta/lib/oe/packagedata.py
index ee10a233fa..918e7ad2cc 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oe/packagedata.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oe/packagedata.py
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ def read_subpkgdata_dict(pkg, d):
     subd = read_pkgdatafile(get_subpkgedata_fn(pkg, d))
     for var in subd:
         newvar = var.replace("_" + pkg, "")
+        if newvar == var and var + "_" + pkg in subd:
+            continue
         ret[newvar] = subd[var]
     return ret