diff --git a/include/image.mk b/include/image.mk
index 18a3ed8ea9..8b7d91d726 100644
--- a/include/image.mk
+++ b/include/image.mk
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ target-dir-%: FORCE
 	-mv $(mkfs_cur_target_dir)/etc/opkg $(mkfs_cur_target_dir).opkg
 	echo 'src default file://$(PACKAGE_DIR_ALL)' > $(mkfs_cur_target_dir).conf
 	$(if $(mkfs_packages_remove), \
-		$(call opkg,$(mkfs_cur_target_dir)) remove \
+		-$(call opkg,$(mkfs_cur_target_dir)) remove \
 			$(mkfs_packages_remove))
 	$(if $(call opkg_package_files,$(mkfs_packages_add)), \
 		$(opkg_target) update && \
diff --git a/include/rootfs.mk b/include/rootfs.mk
index 6a6610019f..15f71ae0df 100644
--- a/include/rootfs.mk
+++ b/include/rootfs.mk
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@ opkg = \
   TMPDIR=$(1)/tmp \
   $(STAGING_DIR_HOST)/bin/opkg \
 	--offline-root $(1) \
-	--force-depends \
-	--force-overwrite \
 	--force-postinstall \
-	--force-maintainer \
 	--add-dest root:/ \
 	--add-arch all:100 \
 	--add-arch $(if $(ARCH_PACKAGES),$(ARCH_PACKAGES),$(BOARD)):200