diff --git a/projects/ARM/options b/projects/ARM/options
index cba5cd8cf3..2d5c0afb69 100644
--- a/projects/ARM/options
+++ b/projects/ARM/options
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
     SWAP_SUPPORT="no"
 
   # additional packages to install
-    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES=""
+    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES+=""
 
   # build with installer (yes / no)
     INSTALLER_SUPPORT="no"
diff --git a/projects/Allwinner/options b/projects/Allwinner/options
index 754611042d..37578dfda3 100644
--- a/projects/Allwinner/options
+++ b/projects/Allwinner/options
@@ -63,4 +63,4 @@
     DEBUG_TTY="/dev/console"
 
   # additional packages to install:
-    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES="dt-overlays"
+    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES+=" dt-overlays"
diff --git a/projects/Amlogic/options b/projects/Amlogic/options
index 475f518447..2128559a61 100644
--- a/projects/Amlogic/options
+++ b/projects/Amlogic/options
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     DRIVER_ADDONS="crazycat dvb-latest"
 
   # additional packages to install:
-    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES="dtc ethmactool emmctool flashrom"
+    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES+=" dtc ethmactool emmctool flashrom"
 
   # use the kernel CEC framework for libcec (yes / no)
     CEC_FRAMEWORK_SUPPORT="yes"
diff --git a/projects/Rockchip/options b/projects/Rockchip/options
index d68f7f5843..8d0b12973e 100644
--- a/projects/Rockchip/options
+++ b/projects/Rockchip/options
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     FIRMWARE="misc-firmware wlan-firmware dvb-firmware brcmfmac_sdio-firmware"
 
   # additional packages to install
-    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES="dtc"
+    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES+=" dtc"
 
   # build and install CEC framework support (yes / no)
     CEC_FRAMEWORK_SUPPORT="yes"
diff --git a/projects/Samsung/options b/projects/Samsung/options
index f1ab3a3187..fbc11e23dc 100644
--- a/projects/Samsung/options
+++ b/projects/Samsung/options
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@
 
   # additional packages to install:
   # Space separated list is supported,
-  # e.g. ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES="PACKAGE1 PACKAGE2"
-    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES="dtc emmctool"
+  # e.g. ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES+=" PACKAGE1 PACKAGE2"
+    ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES+=" dtc emmctool"
 
   # additional drivers to install:
   # for a list of additional drivers see packages/linux-drivers