diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 2daf33780a..9e884235b0 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -186,7 +186,10 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_configured:
 # building a package, even if not enabled in the configuration, we
 # want to accept it.
 ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),)
-	@if test "$($(PKG)_TYPE)" = "target" -a -z "$($($(PKG)_KCONFIG_VAR))" ; then \
+	@if test "$($(PKG)_TYPE)" = "target" \
+		-a "$($(PKG)_IS_VIRTUAL)" != "YES" \
+		-a -z "$($($(PKG)_KCONFIG_VAR))" ; \
+	then \
 		echo "ERROR: $($(PKG)_NAME) is in the dependency chain of a package that has" ; \
 		echo "added it to its _DEPENDENCIES variable (directly or indirectly)" ; \
 		echo "without selecting it from Config.in." ; \
diff --git a/package/pkg-virtual.mk b/package/pkg-virtual.mk
index 9c68b511c4..244c1d0420 100644
--- a/package/pkg-virtual.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-virtual.mk
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ $$(error No implementation selected for virtual package $(1). Configuration erro
 endif
 endif
 
+$(2)_IS_VIRTUAL = YES
+
 # A virtual package does not have any source associated
 $(2)_SOURCE =