diff --git a/target/linux/ath79/image/generic.mk b/target/linux/ath79/image/generic.mk
index 5bb247c58eb..101c7597b86 100644
--- a/target/linux/ath79/image/generic.mk
+++ b/target/linux/ath79/image/generic.mk
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ endef
 define Build/engenius-tar-gz
 	-[ -f "$@" ] && \
 	mkdir -p $@.tmp && \
+	touch $@.tmp/failsafe.bin && \
 	echo '#!/bin/sh' > $@.tmp/before-upgrade.sh && \
 	echo ': > /tmp/_sys/sysupgrade.tgz' >> $@.tmp/before-upgrade.sh && \
 	$(CP) $(KDIR)/loader-$(DEVICE_NAME).uImage \