diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 7d6fa08418..7b3294a09a 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -541,6 +541,12 @@ ifndef $(2)_SITE_METHOD
  endif
 endif
 
+ifndef $(2)_DL_OPTS
+ ifdef $(3)_DL_OPTS
+  $(2)_DL_OPTS = $$($(3)_DL_OPTS)
+ endif
+endif
+
 ifneq ($$(filter bzr cvs hg svn,$$($(2)_SITE_METHOD)),)
 BR_NO_CHECK_HASH_FOR += $$($(2)_SOURCE)
 endif