diff --git a/package/pkg-virtual.mk b/package/pkg-virtual.mk
index 9b206ea06a..617e5f2ec7 100644
--- a/package/pkg-virtual.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-virtual.mk
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ endif
 # A virtual package does not have any source associated
 $(2)_SOURCE =
 
+# Fake a version string, so it looks nicer in the build log
+$(3)_VERSION = virtual
+HOST_$(3)_VERSION = virtual
+
 # This must be repeated from inner-generic-package, otherwise we get an empty
 # _DEPENDENCIES
 $(2)_DEPENDENCIES ?= $(filter-out host-toolchain $(1),\