diff --git a/config/functions b/config/functions
index d9133ddd40..f567676305 100644
--- a/config/functions
+++ b/config/functions
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ get_pkg_directory() {
 get_pkg_variable() {
   if [ -n "$1" -a -n "$2" ] ; then
     cd $ROOT
-    . config/options $1
+    . config/options $1 &>/dev/null
     echo "${!2}"
   fi
 }
@@ -246,6 +246,64 @@ target_has_feature() {
   listcontains "$TARGET_FEATURES" "$1"
 }
 
+# find path for matching file or directory, searching standard directory hierarchy, using optional default
+# if a path is located it will be set in FOUND_PATH and exit code will be 0.
+find_path() {
+  local test_func="$1" search="$2" default="$3"
+  local dir match wildcard=0 ftype
+
+  # support wildcard matches
+  [[ $search =~ \* || $search =~ \? ]] && wildcard=1
+
+  [ "$test_func" = "-f" ] && ftype="file" || ftype="dir"
+
+  for dir in $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/packages/$PKG_NAME \
+             $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE \
+             $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/packages/$PKG_NAME \
+             $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT \
+             $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/packages/$PKG_NAME \
+             $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO \
+             $PKG_DIR \
+             ; do
+    # ignore directories with missing DEVICE or PKG_NAME components
+    [[ $dir =~ /packages/$ ]] && continue
+    [[ $dir =~ /devices/$ ]] && continue
+    [[ $dir =~ /devices//packages/$PKG_NAME$ ]] && continue
+
+    if [ $wildcard -eq 1 ]; then
+      ls $dir/$search 1>/dev/null 2>&1 && match="$dir/$search" && break
+    else
+      [ $test_func "$dir/$search" ] && match="$dir/$search" && break
+    fi
+  done
+
+  if [ -z "$match" -a -n "$default" ]; then
+    if [[ $default =~ \* || $default =~ \? ]]; then
+      ls $default 1>/dev/null 2>&1 && match="$default"
+    else
+      [ $test_func "$default" ] && match="$default"
+    fi
+  fi
+
+  if [ -n "$match" ]; then
+    FOUND_PATH="$match"
+    [ "${VERBOSE_FIND_PATH,,}" = "yes" ] && echo "find_path: Searching for $ftype: \"$search\", found: \"$FOUND_PATH\"" >&2
+    return 0
+  else
+    unset FOUND_PATH
+    [ "${VERBOSE_FIND_PATH,,}" = "yes" ] && echo "find_path: Searching for $ftype: \"$search\" - not found" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
+find_file_path() {
+  find_path -f "$1" "$2"
+}
+
+find_dir_path() {
+  find_path -d "$1" "$2"
+}
+
 install_binary_addon() {
   local addon_id="$1" addon_so
 
diff --git a/packages/network/samba/package.mk b/packages/network/samba/package.mk
index 5739605939..96e2b89cfc 100644
--- a/packages/network/samba/package.mk
+++ b/packages/network/samba/package.mk
@@ -143,17 +143,11 @@ post_makeinstall_target() {
   mkdir -p $INSTALL/usr/lib/samba
     cp $PKG_DIR/scripts/samba-config $INSTALL/usr/lib/samba
 
-  mkdir -p $INSTALL/etc/samba
-  if [ -n "$DEVICE" -a -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/config/smb.conf ]; then
-    cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/config/smb.conf $INSTALL/etc/samba
-  elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/config/smb.conf ]; then
-    cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/config/smb.conf $INSTALL/etc/samba
-  elif [ -f $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/config/smb.conf ]; then
-    cp $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/config/smb.conf $INSTALL/etc/samba
-  else
-    cp $PKG_DIR/config/smb.conf $INSTALL/etc/samba
+  if find_file_path config/smb.conf; then
+    mkdir -p $INSTALL/etc/samba
+      cp ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/etc/samba
     mkdir -p $INSTALL/usr/config
-      cp $PKG_DIR/config/smb.conf $INSTALL/usr/config/samba.conf.sample
+      cp $INSTALL/etc/samba/smb.conf $INSTALL/usr/config/samba.conf.sample
   fi
 
   if [ "$DEVTOOLS" = "yes" ]; then
diff --git a/packages/sysutils/busybox/package.mk b/packages/sysutils/busybox/package.mk
index 446fc381f7..36cd4e9c62 100644
--- a/packages/sysutils/busybox/package.mk
+++ b/packages/sysutils/busybox/package.mk
@@ -53,18 +53,6 @@ if [ "$NFS_SUPPORT" = yes ]; then
   PKG_DEPENDS_TARGET="$PKG_DEPENDS_TARGET rpcbind"
 fi
 
-if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/busybox/busybox-target.conf ]; then
-  BUSYBOX_CFG_FILE_TARGET=$PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/busybox/busybox-target.conf
-else
-  BUSYBOX_CFG_FILE_TARGET=$PKG_DIR/config/busybox-target.conf
-fi
-
-if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/busybox/busybox-init.conf ]; then
-  BUSYBOX_CFG_FILE_INIT=$PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/busybox/busybox-init.conf
-else
-  BUSYBOX_CFG_FILE_INIT=$PKG_DIR/config/busybox-init.conf
-fi
-
 pre_build_target() {
   mkdir -p $PKG_BUILD/.$TARGET_NAME
   cp -RP $PKG_BUILD/* $PKG_BUILD/.$TARGET_NAME
@@ -92,7 +80,8 @@ configure_host() {
 
 configure_target() {
   cd $PKG_BUILD/.$TARGET_NAME
-    cp $BUSYBOX_CFG_FILE_TARGET .config
+    find_file_path config/busybox-target.conf
+    cp $FOUND_PATH .config
 
     # set install dir
     sed -i -e "s|^CONFIG_PREFIX=.*$|CONFIG_PREFIX=\"$INSTALL/usr\"|" .config
@@ -129,7 +118,8 @@ configure_target() {
 
 configure_init() {
   cd $PKG_BUILD/.$TARGET_NAME-init
-    cp $BUSYBOX_CFG_FILE_INIT .config
+    find_file_path config/busybox-init.conf
+    cp $FOUND_PATH .config
 
     # set install dir
     sed -i -e "s|^CONFIG_PREFIX=.*$|CONFIG_PREFIX=\"$INSTALL/usr\"|" .config
@@ -234,12 +224,8 @@ makeinstall_init() {
     touch $INSTALL/etc/fstab
     ln -sf /proc/self/mounts $INSTALL/etc/mtab
 
-  if [ -n "$DEVICE" -a -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/initramfs/platform_init ]; then
-    cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/initramfs/platform_init $INSTALL
-  elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/initramfs/platform_init ]; then
-    cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/initramfs/platform_init $INSTALL
-  fi
-  if [ -f $INSTALL/platform_init ]; then
+  if find_file_path initramfs/platform_init; then
+    cp ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL
     chmod 755 $INSTALL/platform_init
   fi
 
diff --git a/packages/tools/bcm2835-bootloader/package.mk b/packages/tools/bcm2835-bootloader/package.mk
index a785ed288c..0a62cd9442 100644
--- a/packages/tools/bcm2835-bootloader/package.mk
+++ b/packages/tools/bcm2835-bootloader/package.mk
@@ -36,29 +36,10 @@ makeinstall_target() {
     cp -PRv fixup_x.dat $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader/fixup.dat
     cp -PRv start_x.elf $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader/start.elf
 
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/config/dt-blob.bin ]; then
-      cp -PRv $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/config/dt-blob.bin $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    fi
+    find_file_path config/dt-blob.bin && cp -PRv $FOUND_PATH $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
 
     cp -PRv $PKG_DIR/scripts/update.sh $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
 
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/config/distroconfig.txt ]; then
-      cp -PRv $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/config/distroconfig.txt $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/config/distroconfig.txt ]; then
-      cp -PRv $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/config/distroconfig.txt $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    elif [ -f $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/config/distroconfig.txt ]; then
-      cp -PRv $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/config/distroconfig.txt $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    else
-      cp -PRv $PKG_DIR/files/3rdparty/bootloader/distroconfig.txt $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    fi
-
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/config/config.txt ]; then
-      cp -PRv $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/config/config.txt $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/config/config.txt ]; then
-      cp -PRv $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/config/config.txt $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    elif [ -f $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/config/config.txt ]; then
-      cp -PRv $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/config/config.txt $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    else
-      cp -PRv $PKG_DIR/files/3rdparty/bootloader/config.txt $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    fi
+    find_file_path config/distroconfig.txt $PKG_DIR/files/3rdparty/bootloader/distroconfig.txt && cp -PRv ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
+    find_file_path config/config.txt $PKG_DIR/files/3rdparty/bootloader/config.txt && cp -PRv ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
 }
diff --git a/packages/tools/installer/package.mk b/packages/tools/installer/package.mk
index d13d900ee4..43f156e07f 100644
--- a/packages/tools/installer/package.mk
+++ b/packages/tools/installer/package.mk
@@ -35,11 +35,8 @@ post_install() {
         -i  $INSTALL/usr/bin/installer
 
   mkdir -p $INSTALL/etc
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/installer/installer.conf ]; then
-      cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/installer/installer.conf $INSTALL/etc
-    else
-      cp $PKG_DIR/config/installer.conf $INSTALL/etc
-    fi
+    find_file_path config/installer.conf
+    cp ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/etc
     sed -e "s/@SYSTEM_SIZE@/$SYSTEM_SIZE/g" \
         -e "s/@SYSTEM_PART_START@/$SYSTEM_PART_START/g" \
         -e "s/@EXTLINUX_PARAMETERS@/$EXTLINUX_PARAMETERS/g" \
diff --git a/packages/tools/plymouth-lite/package.mk b/packages/tools/plymouth-lite/package.mk
index 033aad4339..95f0f64cd6 100644
--- a/packages/tools/plymouth-lite/package.mk
+++ b/packages/tools/plymouth-lite/package.mk
@@ -43,17 +43,6 @@ makeinstall_init() {
     cp ply-image $INSTALL/usr/bin
 
   mkdir -p $INSTALL/splash
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/splash/splash.conf ]; then
-      cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/splash/splash.conf $INSTALL/splash
-      cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/splash/*.png $INSTALL/splash
-    elif ls $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/splash/splash-*.png 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/splash/splash-*.png $INSTALL/splash
-    elif [ -f $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/splash/splash.conf ]; then
-      cp $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/splash/splash.conf $INSTALL/splash
-      cp $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/splash/*.png $INSTALL/splash
-    elif ls $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/splash/splash-*.png 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      cp $DISTRO_DIR/$DISTRO/splash/splash-*.png $INSTALL/splash
-    else
-      cp $PKG_DIR/splash/splash-*.png $INSTALL/splash
-    fi
+    find_file_path splash/splash.conf && cp ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/splash
+    find_file_path "splash/splash-*.png" && cp ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/splash
 }
diff --git a/packages/tools/u-boot/package.mk b/packages/tools/u-boot/package.mk
index 71860e518e..aab4b29f9b 100644
--- a/packages/tools/u-boot/package.mk
+++ b/packages/tools/u-boot/package.mk
@@ -55,27 +55,15 @@ makeinstall_target() {
 
     # Only install u-boot.img et al when building a board specific image
     if [ -n "$UBOOT_SYSTEM" ]; then
-      if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/install ]; then
-        . $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/install
-      elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/install ]; then
-        . $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/install
-      fi
+      find_file_path bootloader/install && . ${FOUND_PATH}
     fi
 
     # Always install the update script
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/update.sh ]; then
-      cp -av $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/update.sh $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/update.sh ]; then
-      cp -av $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/update.sh $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    fi
+    find_file_path bootloader/update.sh && cp -av ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
 
     # Always install the canupdate script
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/canupdate.sh ]; then
-      cp -av $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/canupdate.sh $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/canupdate.sh ]; then
-      cp -av $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/canupdate.sh $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    fi
-    if [ -f $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader/canupdate.sh ]; then
+    if find_file_path bootloader/canupdate.sh; then
+      cp -av ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
       sed -e "s/@PROJECT@/${DEVICE:-$PROJECT}/g" \
           -i $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader/canupdate.sh
     fi
diff --git a/packages/x11/xserver/xorg-server/package.mk b/packages/x11/xserver/xorg-server/package.mk
index f9c99ed954..55d60e6a1f 100644
--- a/packages/x11/xserver/xorg-server/package.mk
+++ b/packages/x11/xserver/xorg-server/package.mk
@@ -156,11 +156,8 @@ post_makeinstall_target() {
   fi
 
   mkdir -p $INSTALL/etc/X11
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/xorg/xorg.conf ]; then
-      cp $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/xorg/xorg.conf $INSTALL/etc/X11
-    elif [ -f $PKG_DIR/config/xorg.conf ]; then
-      cp $PKG_DIR/config/xorg.conf $INSTALL/etc/X11
-    fi
+    find_file_path config/xorg.conf &&
+      cp $FOUND_PATH $INSTALL/etc/X11
 
   if [ ! "$DEVTOOLS" = yes ]; then
     rm -rf $INSTALL/usr/bin/cvt
diff --git a/projects/Amlogic/devices/LePotato/packages/u-boot/package.mk b/projects/Amlogic/devices/LePotato/packages/u-boot/package.mk
index 19282383c9..184c022647 100644
--- a/projects/Amlogic/devices/LePotato/packages/u-boot/package.mk
+++ b/projects/Amlogic/devices/LePotato/packages/u-boot/package.mk
@@ -48,26 +48,13 @@ makeinstall_target() {
   mkdir -p $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
 
     # Only install u-boot.img et al when building a board specific image
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/install ]; then
-      . $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/install
-    elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/install ]; then
-      . $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/install
-    fi
+    find_file_path bootloader/install && . ${FOUND_PATH}
 
     # Always install the update script
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/update.sh ]; then
-      cp -av $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/update.sh $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/update.sh ]; then
-      cp -av $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/update.sh $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    fi
+    find_file_path bootloader/update.sh && cp -av ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
 
     cp $PKG_BUILD/fip/u-boot.bin.sd.bin $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader/u-boot
 
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/boot.ini ]; then
-      cp -av $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/boot.ini $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    fi
-
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/config.ini ]; then
-      cp -av $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/config.ini $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
-    fi
+    find_file_path bootloader/boot.ini && cp -av ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
+    find_file_path bootloader/config.ini && cp -av ${FOUND_PATH} $INSTALL/usr/share/bootloader
 }
diff --git a/scripts/image b/scripts/image
index 290bd92ef3..550d6fb8a8 100755
--- a/scripts/image
+++ b/scripts/image
@@ -283,15 +283,9 @@ if [ "$1" = "release" -o "$1" = "mkimage" -o "$1" = "amlpkg" -o "$1" = "noobs" ]
       cp -R $BOOTLOADER_DIR/files/* $RELEASE_DIR
     fi
 
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/release ]; then
-      echo "Running $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/release"
-      . $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/release
-    elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/release ]; then
-      echo "Running $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/release"
-      . $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/release
-    elif [ -f $BOOTLOADER_DIR/release ]; then
-      echo "Running $BOOTLOADER_DIR/release"
-      . $BOOTLOADER_DIR/release
+    if find_file_path bootloader/release $BOOTLOADER_DIR/release; then
+      echo "Running $FOUND_PATH"
+      . $FOUND_PATH
     fi
   fi
 
diff --git a/scripts/mkimage b/scripts/mkimage
index 9a4e2f4e27..10fc4bafb1 100755
--- a/scripts/mkimage
+++ b/scripts/mkimage
@@ -249,10 +249,8 @@ EOF
       mcopy -s "$LE_TMP"/extlinux ::
     fi
 
-    if [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/mkimage ]; then
-      . $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/devices/$DEVICE/bootloader/mkimage
-    elif [ -f $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/mkimage ]; then
-      . $PROJECT_DIR/$PROJECT/bootloader/mkimage
+    if find_file_path bootloader/mkimage; then
+      . ${FOUND_PATH}
     else
       echo "No specific mkimage script found. u-boot will not be written"
     fi