diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/build.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/build.py
index b4efd269fd..7644bf0ee7 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/build.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/build.py
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ def exec_task(task, d):
         bb.msg.debug(1, bb.msg.domain.Build, "Executing task %s" % task)
         old_overrides = data.getVar('OVERRIDES', d, 0)
         localdata = data.createCopy(d)
-        data.setVar('OVERRIDES', 'task_%s:%s' % (task, old_overrides), localdata)
+        data.setVar('OVERRIDES', 'task-%s:%s' % (task[3:], old_overrides), localdata)
         data.update_data(localdata)
         data.expandKeys(localdata)
         event.fire(TaskStarted(task, localdata))