diff --git a/include/default-packages.mk b/include/default-packages.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c964e92a03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/default-packages.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+ifneq ($(CONFIG_USE_APK),)
+  DEFAULT_PACKAGES += apk-mbedtls
+else
+  DEFAULT_PACKAGES += opkg
+endif
diff --git a/target/imagebuilder/files/Makefile b/target/imagebuilder/files/Makefile
index 56f761e966..c4e2c390fe 100644
--- a/target/imagebuilder/files/Makefile
+++ b/target/imagebuilder/files/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/debug.mk
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/depends.mk
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/rootfs.mk
 
+include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/default-packages.mk
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/version.mk
 export REVISION
 export SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH