diff --git a/include/package-defaults.mk b/include/package-defaults.mk
index e2ce863166..45a92cf6e9 100644
--- a/include/package-defaults.mk
+++ b/include/package-defaults.mk
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ else
   PKG_FIXUP_DEPENDS = $(2)
 endif
 
+PKG_MAINTAINER ?= OpenWrt Developers Team <openwrt-devel@openwrt.org>
+
 define Package/Default
   CONFIGFILE:=
   SECTION:=opt
@@ -21,7 +23,7 @@ define Package/Default
   MDEPENDS:=
   PROVIDES:=
   EXTRA_DEPENDS:=
-  MAINTAINER:=OpenWrt Developers Team <openwrt-devel@openwrt.org>
+  MAINTAINER:=$(PKG_MAINTAINER)
   SOURCE:=$(patsubst $(TOPDIR)/%,%,$(CURDIR))
   ifneq ($(PKG_VERSION),)
     ifneq ($(PKG_RELEASE),)