diff --git a/target/linux/malta/Makefile b/target/linux/malta/Makefile
index f74820e687..172aeeca8b 100644
--- a/target/linux/malta/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/malta/Makefile
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ MAINTAINER:=Florian Fainelli <florian@openwrt.org>
 
 LINUX_VERSION:=3.3.8
 
+DEVICE_TYPE:=developerboard
+
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/target.mk
 
 DEFAULT_PACKAGES += wpad-mini kmod-mac80211-hwsim kmod-pcnet32