diff --git a/target/linux/rtl838x/Makefile b/target/linux/rtl838x/Makefile
index 764b94ae386..c4138c7a9ae 100644
--- a/target/linux/rtl838x/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/rtl838x/Makefile
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ ARCH:=mips
 CPU_TYPE:=4kec
 BOARD:=rtl838x
 BOARDNAME:=Realtek MIPS
+DEVICE_TYPE:=basic
 FEATURES:=ramdisk squashfs
 
 KERNEL_PATCHVER:=5.4