diff --git a/package/system/apk/Makefile b/package/system/apk/Makefile
index 912ddc253e..24fa18a6cc 100644
--- a/package/system/apk/Makefile
+++ b/package/system/apk/Makefile
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@ define Package/apk-mbedtls
   TITLE += (mbedtls)
   DEPENDS +=+libmbedtls
   VARIANT:=mbedtls
-  DEFAULT_VARIANT:=1
-  CONFLICTS:=apk-openssl
 endef
 
 define Package/apk-openssl
@@ -46,6 +44,8 @@ define Package/apk-openssl
   TITLE += (openssl)
   DEPENDS +=+libopenssl
   VARIANT:=openssl
+  DEFAULT_VARIANT:=1
+  CONFLICTS:=apk-mbedtls
 endef
 
 MESON_HOST_VARS+=VERSION=$(PKG_VERSION)