diff --git a/pmb/build/_package.py b/pmb/build/_package.py
index 8cc0a5b7..6750ba05 100644
--- a/pmb/build/_package.py
+++ b/pmb/build/_package.py
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ def process_package(
         if context.no_depends:
             pmb.helpers.repo.update(arch)
             cross = pmb.build.autodetect.crosscompile(apkbuild, arch)
-            _dep_arch = Arch.native() if cross == "native" else arch
+            _dep_arch = Arch.native() if cross == "cross-native2" else arch
             if not pmb.parse.apkindex.package(dep, _dep_arch, False):
                 raise RuntimeError(
                     "Missing binary package for dependency '" + dep + "' of '" + parent + "', but"
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ def packages(
         # (re)-initialize the cross compiler stuff when cross method changes
         prev_cross = cross
         cross = pmb.build.autodetect.crosscompile(pkg["apkbuild"], pkg_arch)
-        if cross == "native" or cross == "kernel":
+        if cross == "cross-native2" or cross == "cross-native":
             chroot = Chroot.native()
 
         # One time chroot initialization
diff --git a/pmb/build/autodetect.py b/pmb/build/autodetect.py
index c3c9fed9..dc871847 100644
--- a/pmb/build/autodetect.py
+++ b/pmb/build/autodetect.py
@@ -100,9 +100,9 @@ def crosscompile(apkbuild: Apkbuild, arch: Arch) -> CrossCompileType:
         return None
     # deprecated cross-native environment for building kernels
     if "pmb:cross-native" in apkbuild["options"]:
-        return "kernel"
+        return "cross-native"
     if arch.is_native() or "pmb:cross-native2" in apkbuild["options"]:
-        return "native"
+        return "cross-native2"
     if "!pmb:crossdirect" in apkbuild["options"]:
         return None
     return "crossdirect"
diff --git a/pmb/build/backend.py b/pmb/build/backend.py
index 47809d05..716d1fb1 100644
--- a/pmb/build/backend.py
+++ b/pmb/build/backend.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def run_abuild(
     depending on the cross-compiler method and target architecture), copy
     the aport to the chroot and execute abuild.
 
-    :param cross: None, "native", or "crossdirect"
+    :param cross: None, "cross-native", "cross-native2" or "crossdirect"
     :param src: override source used to build the package with a local folder
     :param bootstrap_stage: pass a BOOTSTRAP= env var with the value to abuild
     :returns: (output, cmd, env), output is the destination apk path relative
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ def run_abuild(
               the environment variables dict generated in this function.
     """
     # Sanity check
-    if cross == "kernel" and "!tracedeps" not in apkbuild["options"]:
+    if cross == "cross-native" and "!tracedeps" not in apkbuild["options"]:
         logging.warning(
             "WARNING: Option !tracedeps is not set, but cross compiling with"
             " cross-native (version 1). This will probably fail!"
@@ -219,10 +219,10 @@ def run_abuild(
 
     # For cross-native2 compilation, bindmount the "host" rootfs to /mnt/sysroot
     # it will be used as the "sysroot"
-    if cross == "native":
+    if cross == "cross-native2":
         pmb.mount.bind(hostchroot.path, Chroot.native() / "/mnt/sysroot", umount=True)
 
-    chroot = Chroot.native() if cross == "native" else hostchroot
+    chroot = Chroot.native() if cross == "cross-native2" else hostchroot
 
     pkgdir = context.config.work / "packages" / channel
     if not pkgdir.exists():
@@ -247,11 +247,11 @@ def run_abuild(
 
     # Environment variables
     env: Env = {"SUDO_APK": "abuild-apk --no-progress"}
-    if cross == "kernel":
+    if cross == "cross-native":
         hostspec = arch.alpine_triple()
         env["CROSS_COMPILE"] = hostspec + "-"
         env["CC"] = hostspec + "-gcc"
-    if cross == "native":
+    if cross == "cross-native2":
         env["CHOST"] = str(arch)
         env["CBUILDROOT"] = "/mnt/sysroot"
         env["CFLAGS"] = "-Wl,-rpath-link=/mnt/sysroot/usr/lib"
diff --git a/pmb/types.py b/pmb/types.py
index fdc0e1b5..59eacaf6 100644
--- a/pmb/types.py
+++ b/pmb/types.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from typing import Any, Literal, TypedDict
 
 from pmb.core.arch import Arch
 
-CrossCompileType = Literal["native", "crossdirect", "kernel"] | None
+CrossCompileType = Literal["crossdirect", "cross-native", "cross-native2"] | None
 RunOutputTypeDefault = Literal["log", "stdout", "interactive", "tui", "null"]
 RunOutputTypePopen = Literal["background", "pipe"]
 RunOutputType = RunOutputTypeDefault | RunOutputTypePopen