diff --git a/package/pkg-golang.mk b/package/pkg-golang.mk
index 7ba82284f3..1fa0b001e0 100644
--- a/package/pkg-golang.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-golang.mk
@@ -92,8 +92,12 @@ $(2)_DL_ENV += \
 	$$($(2)_GO_ENV)
 
 # Due to vendoring, it is pretty likely that not all licenses are
-# listed in <pkg>_LICENSE.
+# listed in <pkg>_LICENSE. If the license is unset, it is "unknown"
+# so adding unknowns to some unknown is still some other unkown,
+# so don't append the blurb in that case.
+ifneq ($$($(2)_LICENSE),)
 $(2)_LICENSE += , vendored dependencies licenses probably not listed
+endif
 
 # Build step. Only define it if not already defined by the package .mk
 # file.