diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 9c87aecba9..d3a6db6096 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -268,14 +268,14 @@ ifndef $(2)_LICENSE
  endif
 endif
 
+$(2)_LICENSE			?= unknown
+
 ifndef $(2)_LICENSE_FILES
  ifdef $(3)_LICENSE_FILES
   $(2)_LICENSE_FILES = $($(3)_LICENSE_FILES)
  endif
 endif
 
-$(2)_LICENSE			?= unknown
-
 $(2)_DEPENDENCIES ?= $(filter-out $(1),$(patsubst host-host-%,host-%,$(addprefix host-,$($(3)_DEPENDENCIES))))
 
 $(2)_INSTALL_STAGING		?= NO