diff --git a/Makefile.include b/Makefile.include
index 6aeae38585..77f021992d 100644
--- a/Makefile.include
+++ b/Makefile.include
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@ GITCACHE       ?= $(RIOTBASE)/dist/tools/git/git-cache
 APPDIR         ?= $(CURDIR)
 BINDIRBASE     ?= $(APPDIR)/bin
 BINDIR         ?= $(BINDIRBASE)/$(BOARD)
+PKGDIRBASE     ?= $(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)
 
-__DIRECTORY_VARIABLES := RIOTBASE CCACHE_BASEDIR RIOTCPU RIOTBOARD RIOTPKG GITCACHE RIOTPROJECT APPDIR BINDIRBASE BINDIR
+__DIRECTORY_VARIABLES := RIOTBASE CCACHE_BASEDIR RIOTCPU RIOTBOARD RIOTPKG GITCACHE RIOTPROJECT APPDIR BINDIRBASE BINDIR PKGDIRBASE
 
 # Make all paths absolute.
 override RIOTBASE       := $(abspath $(RIOTBASE))
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ override GITCACHE       := $(abspath $(GITCACHE))
 override APPDIR         := $(abspath $(APPDIR))
 override BINDIRBASE     := $(abspath $(BINDIRBASE))
 override BINDIR         := $(abspath $(BINDIR))
+override PKGDIRBASE     := $(abspath $(PKGDIRBASE))
 
 # Ensure that all directories are set and don't contain spaces.
 ifneq (, $(filter-out 1, $(foreach v,${__DIRECTORY_VARIABLES},$(words ${${v}}))))
diff --git a/Makefile.vars b/Makefile.vars
index 39e3abf092..e71f2f09c0 100644
--- a/Makefile.vars
+++ b/Makefile.vars
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export RIOTPROJECT           # Top level git root of the project being built, or
 export BINDIRBASE            # This is the folder where the application should be built in. For each BOARD a different subfolder is used.
 export BINDIR                # This is the folder where the application should be built in.
 export APPDIR                # The base folder containing the application
+export PKGDIRBASE            # The base folder for building packages
 
 export TARGET_ARCH           # The target platform name, in GCC triple notation, e.g. "arm-none-eabi", "i686-elf", "avr"
 export PREFIX                # The prefix of the toolchain commands, usually "$(TARGET_ARCH)-", e.g. "arm-none-eabi-" or "msp430-".
diff --git a/pkg/aversiveplusplus/Makefile.include b/pkg/aversiveplusplus/Makefile.include
index e0767c5408..02ddd4689c 100644
--- a/pkg/aversiveplusplus/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/aversiveplusplus/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-AVERSIVEPLUSPLUS_MODULES_DIR = $(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/aversiveplusplus/modules
+AVERSIVEPLUSPLUS_MODULES_DIR = $(PKGDIRBASE)/aversiveplusplus/modules
 
 INCLUDES += -I$(AVERSIVEPLUSPLUS_MODULES_DIR)/base/include
 INCLUDES += -I$(AVERSIVEPLUSPLUS_MODULES_DIR)/container/include
diff --git a/pkg/ccn-lite/Makefile.include b/pkg/ccn-lite/Makefile.include
index c1f3dcc033..8718a60edb 100644
--- a/pkg/ccn-lite/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/ccn-lite/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTPKG)/ccn-lite -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/ccn-lite/src
+INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTPKG)/ccn-lite -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/ccn-lite/src
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBASE)/sys/posix/include
 
 CFLAGS += -DCCNL_RIOT
diff --git a/pkg/cmsis-dsp/Makefile.include b/pkg/cmsis-dsp/Makefile.include
index 168751983e..d76141ecfc 100644
--- a/pkg/cmsis-dsp/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/cmsis-dsp/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/cmsis-dsp/include
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/cmsis-dsp/include
diff --git a/pkg/emb6/Makefile.include b/pkg/emb6/Makefile.include
index 090cebac9c..2b10bec81e 100644
--- a/pkg/emb6/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/emb6/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-PKG_BUILDDIR ?= $(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/emb6
+PKG_BUILDDIR ?= $(PKGDIRBASE)/emb6
 EMB6_DIR := $(PKG_BUILDDIR)
 EMB6_CONTRIB := $(RIOTBASE)/pkg/emb6/contrib
 
diff --git a/pkg/heatshrink/Makefile.include b/pkg/heatshrink/Makefile.include
index eec2bc98d3..b57f71bdb7 100644
--- a/pkg/heatshrink/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/heatshrink/Makefile.include
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 CFLAGS += -DHEATSHRINK_DYNAMIC_ALLOC=0
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/heatshrink
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/heatshrink
diff --git a/pkg/jsmn/Makefile.include b/pkg/jsmn/Makefile.include
index c8eef19bb6..b79e64fafe 100644
--- a/pkg/jsmn/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/jsmn/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/jsmn
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/jsmn
diff --git a/pkg/libcoap/Makefile.include b/pkg/libcoap/Makefile.include
index 464f0f3a09..73dd7ce3ce 100644
--- a/pkg/libcoap/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/libcoap/Makefile.include
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/libcoap \
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/libcoap \
 			-I$(RIOTBASE)/sys/posix/include \
 			-I$(RIOTBASE)/sys/net/include
diff --git a/pkg/libfixmath/Makefile.include b/pkg/libfixmath/Makefile.include
index 0ce160429e..c5ed678375 100644
--- a/pkg/libfixmath/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/libfixmath/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-PKG_BUILDDIR ?= $(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/libfixmath
+PKG_BUILDDIR ?= $(PKGDIRBASE)/libfixmath
 
 # The static cache is huge, disable it.
 CFLAGS += -DFIXMATH_NO_CACHE
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/Makefile.include b/pkg/lwip/Makefile.include
index b2ffbcd8c0..3f1e6e8f54 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/lwip/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBASE)/pkg/lwip/include \
-            -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/lwip/src/include
+            -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/lwip/src/include
 
 ifneq (,$(filter lwip_conn,$(USEMODULE)))
   DIRS += $(RIOTBASE)/pkg/lwip/contrib/conn
diff --git a/pkg/micro-ecc/Makefile.include b/pkg/micro-ecc/Makefile.include
index 88480400b1..1bb685e1b8 100644
--- a/pkg/micro-ecc/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/micro-ecc/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/micro-ecc
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/micro-ecc
diff --git a/pkg/microcoap/Makefile.include b/pkg/microcoap/Makefile.include
index 84444392db..f824a20ea4 100644
--- a/pkg/microcoap/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/microcoap/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/microcoap
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/microcoap
diff --git a/pkg/nanocoap/Makefile.include b/pkg/nanocoap/Makefile.include
index c636749c80..16f9db7795 100644
--- a/pkg/nanocoap/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/nanocoap/Makefile.include
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/nanocoap/nanocoap
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/nanocoap/nanocoap
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBASE)/sys/posix/include
diff --git a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile
index d02525550e..9c2d71447a 100644
--- a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile
+++ b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ PKG_FILE = nrf5_iot_sdk_$(PKG_VERSION).zip
 PKG_URL = https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF5_IoT_SDK/nRF5_IoT_SDK_v0.9.x/$(PKG_FILE)
 PKG_LICENSE = nordic-bsd
 PKG_DIR=$(CURDIR)
-PKG_BUILDDIR=$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/$(PKG_NAME)
+PKG_BUILDDIR=$(PKGDIRBASE)/$(PKG_NAME)
 PKG_SRCDIR=$(PKG_BUILDDIR)/src
 
 SOFTDEVICE := components/softdevice/s1xx_iot/s1xx-iot-prototype3_nrf52_softdevice.hex
diff --git a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile.include b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile.include
index 138595464e..4db3a86812 100644
--- a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-NORDIC_SRCS := $(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/nordic_softdevice_ble/src
+NORDIC_SRCS := $(PKGDIRBASE)/nordic_softdevice_ble/src
 
 INCLUDES += \
 			-I$(RIOTBASE)/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/src \
diff --git a/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile.include b/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile.include
index 996f3cc11f..5af9c3071f 100644
--- a/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/oonf_api/src-api
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/oonf_api/src-api
 
 ifeq ($(shell uname -s),Darwin)
 	CFLAGS += -Wno-reserved-id-macro -Wno-keyword-macro
diff --git a/pkg/pkg.mk b/pkg/pkg.mk
index fa8e5a9ddd..937811e3a8 100644
--- a/pkg/pkg.mk
+++ b/pkg/pkg.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # Include this file if your Package needs to be checked out by git
 #
 PKG_DIR?=$(CURDIR)
-PKG_BUILDDIR?=$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/$(PKG_NAME)
+PKG_BUILDDIR?=$(PKGDIRBASE)/$(PKG_NAME)
 
 .PHONY: git-download clean
 
diff --git a/pkg/relic/Makefile.include b/pkg/relic/Makefile.include
index b6777ad443..4c6ff1baba 100644
--- a/pkg/relic/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/relic/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/relic/include
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/relic/include
diff --git a/pkg/tiny-asn1/Makefile.include b/pkg/tiny-asn1/Makefile.include
index 9965a43a7a..fa83b2ba0d 100644
--- a/pkg/tiny-asn1/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/tiny-asn1/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/tiny-asn1/src
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/tiny-asn1/src
diff --git a/pkg/tinydtls/Makefile.include b/pkg/tinydtls/Makefile.include
index 305817ccf5..74dae8fd33 100644
--- a/pkg/tinydtls/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/tinydtls/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-PKG_BUILDDIR ?= $(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/tinydtls
+PKG_BUILDDIR ?= $(PKGDIRBASE)/tinydtls
 
 INCLUDES += -I$(PKG_BUILDDIR)
 
diff --git a/pkg/tlsf/Makefile b/pkg/tlsf/Makefile
index ef4678f20a..480e2ff606 100644
--- a/pkg/tlsf/Makefile
+++ b/pkg/tlsf/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ PKG_FILE = tlsf-$(PKG_VERSION).zip
 PKG_URL = http://download.riot-os.org/$(PKG_FILE)
 PKG_LICENSE = PD
 PKG_DIR=$(CURDIR)
-PKG_BUILDDIR=$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/$(PKG_NAME)
+PKG_BUILDDIR=$(PKGDIRBASE)/$(PKG_NAME)
 PKG_SRCDIR=$(PKG_BUILDDIR)/src
 
 .PHONY: all clean distclean
diff --git a/pkg/tlsf/Makefile.include b/pkg/tlsf/Makefile.include
index 3f00a5695f..5334016a4d 100644
--- a/pkg/tlsf/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/tlsf/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/tlsf/src
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/tlsf/src
diff --git a/pkg/tweetnacl/Makefile.include b/pkg/tweetnacl/Makefile.include
index 1c38af9d01..de6d05aaa7 100644
--- a/pkg/tweetnacl/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/tweetnacl/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/tweetnacl/
\ No newline at end of file
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/tweetnacl/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pkg/u8g2/Makefile.include b/pkg/u8g2/Makefile.include
index ccc86c8459..98bbc699d4 100644
--- a/pkg/u8g2/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/u8g2/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-INCLUDES += -I$(BINDIRBASE)/pkg/$(BOARD)/u8g2/csrc
+INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/u8g2/csrc
 
 # Link SDL if enabled.
 ifneq (,$(filter u8g2_sdl,$(USEMODULE)))