diff --git a/package/screen/screen.mk b/package/screen/screen.mk
index 8d67c04b63..37d43366c2 100644
--- a/package/screen/screen.mk
+++ b/package/screen/screen.mk
@@ -17,7 +17,14 @@ SCREEN_INSTALL_TARGET_OPTS = DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) SCREEN=screen install_bin
 define SCREEN_INSTALL_SCREENRC
 	$(INSTALL) -m 0755 -D $(@D)/etc/screenrc $(TARGET_DIR)/etc/screenrc
 endef
-
 SCREEN_POST_INSTALL_TARGET_HOOKS += SCREEN_INSTALL_SCREENRC
 
+# Add /usr/bin/screen to /etc/shells otherwise some login tools like dropbear
+# can reject the user connection. See man shells.
+define SCREEN_ADD_SCREEN_TO_SHELLS
+	grep -qsE '^/usr/bin/screen$$' $(TARGET_DIR)/etc/shells \
+		|| echo "/usr/bin/screen" >> $(TARGET_DIR)/etc/shells
+endef
+SCREEN_TARGET_FINALIZE_HOOKS += SCREEN_ADD_SCREEN_TO_SHELLS
+
 $(eval $(autotools-package))