diff --git a/package/skeleton/skeleton.mk b/package/skeleton/skeleton.mk
index 9b7407a236..017479a990 100644
--- a/package/skeleton/skeleton.mk
+++ b/package/skeleton/skeleton.mk
@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@ SKELETON_ADD_SKELETON_DEPENDENCY = NO
 # The skeleton also handles the merged /usr case in the sysroot
 SKELETON_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
+############
+# Macros available for use by any skeleton package:
+# - SKELETON_RSYNC
+
+# This function rsyncs the skeleton directory in $(1) to the destination
+# in $(2), which should be either $(TARTGET_DIR) or $(STAGING_DIR)
+define SKELETON_RSYNC
+	rsync -a --ignore-times $(RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS) \
+		--chmod=u=rwX,go=rX --exclude .empty --exclude '*~' \
+		$(1)/ $(2)/
+endef
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_CUSTOM),y)
 
 SKELETON_PATH = $(call qstrip,$(BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_CUSTOM_PATH))
@@ -89,9 +101,7 @@ SKELETON_LIB_SYMLINK = lib32
 endif
 
 define SKELETON_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS
-	rsync -a --ignore-times $(RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS) \
-		--chmod=u=rwX,go=rX --exclude .empty --exclude '*~' \
-		$(SKELETON_PATH)/ $(TARGET_DIR)/
+	$(call SKELETON_RSYNC,$(SKELETON_PATH),$(TARGET_DIR))
 	$(call SKELETON_USR_SYMLINKS_OR_DIRS,$(TARGET_DIR))
 	ln -snf lib $(TARGET_DIR)/$(SKELETON_LIB_SYMLINK)
 	ln -snf lib $(TARGET_DIR)/usr/$(SKELETON_LIB_SYMLINK)