diff --git a/config/Config-build.in b/config/Config-build.in
index a082a5e0e2e..162510b646e 100644
--- a/config/Config-build.in
+++ b/config/Config-build.in
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ menu "Global build settings"
 		bool "Cryptographically signed package lists"
 		default y
 
+	config SIGNATURE_CHECK
+		bool "Enable signature checking in opkg"
+		default SIGNED_PACKAGES
+
 	comment "General build options"
 
 	config DISPLAY_SUPPORT
diff --git a/package/system/opkg/Makefile b/package/system/opkg/Makefile
index 43b9ebdb4f7..ed3cd5ebf43 100644
--- a/package/system/opkg/Makefile
+++ b/package/system/opkg/Makefile
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ PKG_MAINTAINER:=Jo-Philipp Wich <jo@mein.io>
 
 # Extend depends from version.mk
 PKG_CONFIG_DEPENDS += \
-	CONFIG_SIGNED_PACKAGES \
+	CONFIG_SIGNATURE_CHECK \
 	CONFIG_TARGET_INIT_PATH
 
 PKG_BUILD_PARALLEL:=1
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ define Package/opkg/install
 	$(INSTALL_DATA) ./files/opkg$(2).conf $(1)/etc/opkg.conf
 	$(INSTALL_BIN) ./files/20_migrate-feeds $(1)/etc/uci-defaults/
 	$(INSTALL_BIN) $(PKG_INSTALL_DIR)/usr/bin/opkg-cl $(1)/bin/opkg
-  ifneq ($(CONFIG_SIGNED_PACKAGES),)
+  ifneq ($(CONFIG_SIGNATURE_CHECK),)
 	echo "option check_signature" >> $(1)/etc/opkg.conf
   endif
 	$(INSTALL_DIR) $(1)/usr/sbin