diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e3b1f78a..dd99e437 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -38,13 +38,15 @@ include $(GLUON_SITEDIR)/site.mk
 GLUON_RELEASE ?= $(error GLUON_RELEASE not set. GLUON_RELEASE can be set in site.mk or on the command line)
 
 GLUON_TARGETSDIR ?= targets
+GLUON_PATCHESDIR ?= patches
 $(eval $(call mkabspath,GLUON_TARGETSDIR))
+$(eval $(call mkabspath,GLUON_PATCHESDIR))
 
 GLUON_MULTIDOMAIN ?= 0
 GLUON_WLAN_MESH ?= 11s
 GLUON_DEBUG ?= 0
 
-export GLUON_RELEASE GLUON_REGION GLUON_MULTIDOMAIN GLUON_WLAN_MESH GLUON_DEBUG GLUON_TARGETSDIR
+export GLUON_RELEASE GLUON_REGION GLUON_MULTIDOMAIN GLUON_WLAN_MESH GLUON_DEBUG GLUON_TARGETSDIR GLUON_PATCHESDIR
 
 show-release:
 	@echo '$(GLUON_RELEASE)'