diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index a6d3bb2ba2..ec8afdd9bc 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -263,21 +263,6 @@ be selected at a time. Please fix your configuration)
 endif
 endef
 
-################################################################################
-# check-deprecated-variable -- throw an error on deprecated variables
-#
-# argument 1 is the deprecated variable
-# argument 2 is the new variable to use
-#
-# example:
-#   $(eval $(call check-deprecated-variable,FOO_MAKE_OPT,FOO_MAKE_OPTS))
-################################################################################
-define check-deprecated-variable
-ifneq ($$(origin $(1)),undefined)
-$$(error Package error: use $(2) instead of $(1). Please fix your .mk file)
-endif
-endef
-
 ################################################################################
 # inner-generic-package -- generates the make targets needed to build a
 # generic package
diff --git a/package/pkg-utils.mk b/package/pkg-utils.mk
index 44766a062e..902531df4a 100644
--- a/package/pkg-utils.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-utils.mk
@@ -88,6 +88,15 @@ define sep
 
 endef
 
+# check-deprecated-variable -- throw an error on deprecated variables
+# example:
+#   $(eval $(call check-deprecated-variable,FOO_MAKE_OPT,FOO_MAKE_OPTS))
+define check-deprecated-variable # (deprecated var, new var)
+ifneq ($$(origin $(1)),undefined)
+$$(error Package error: use $(2) instead of $(1). Please fix your .mk file)
+endif
+endef
+
 #
 # legal-info helper functions
 #