diff --git a/pkg/Makefile.git b/pkg/Makefile.git
index b9d1251cab..5536103ada 100644
--- a/pkg/Makefile.git
+++ b/pkg/Makefile.git
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 PKG_NAME=		# name of the package
 PKG_URL=		# source url of the package's git repository
 PKG_VERSION=	# version of the package to use e.g. a git commit/ref
+PKG_LICENSE=	# license of the package
 
 .PHONY: all
 
diff --git a/pkg/Makefile.http b/pkg/Makefile.http
index bea038e3b9..15d1ae3986 100644
--- a/pkg/Makefile.http
+++ b/pkg/Makefile.http
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ PKG_NAME    = my_pkg                       # name of the package
 PKG_URL     = http://example.com/downloads # source url of the package e.g. a git repository
 PKG_VERSION = v1.2.3                       # version of the package to use e.g. a git commit/ref
 PKG_EXT     = zip                          # extension of this package
+PKG_LICENSE = MIT                          # license of the package
 
 ifneq ($(RIOTBASE),)
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.base