diff --git a/make/kbuild.mk b/make/kbuild.mk
index 4c36eaf7..a07b8b3c 100644
--- a/make/kbuild.mk
+++ b/make/kbuild.mk
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ ifndef ARCH
 $(error $$ARCH must be set)
 endif
 
+#
+# The kernel major version
+#
+ifndef K_MAJOR_VERSION
+$(error $$K_MAJOR_VERSION must be set)
+endif
+
 #
 # The kernel patchlevel.
 #
@@ -77,7 +84,7 @@ endif
 ############################################################
 ONL_KERNELS := $(ONL)/packages/base/any/kernels
 
-K_VERSION := 3.$(K_PATCH_LEVEL).$(K_SUB_LEVEL)$(K_SUFFIX)
+K_VERSION := $(K_MAJOR_VERSION).$(K_PATCH_LEVEL).$(K_SUB_LEVEL)$(K_SUFFIX)
 K_NAME := linux-$(K_VERSION)
 ifndef K_ARCHIVE_EXT
 K_ARCHIVE_EXT := tar.xz
diff --git a/packages/base/any/kernels/3.2.65-1+deb7u2/kconfig.mk b/packages/base/any/kernels/3.2.65-1+deb7u2/kconfig.mk
index 75eb51d1..164623a9 100644
--- a/packages/base/any/kernels/3.2.65-1+deb7u2/kconfig.mk
+++ b/packages/base/any/kernels/3.2.65-1+deb7u2/kconfig.mk
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #
 ############################################################
 THIS_DIR := $(abspath $(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
-
+K_MAJOR_VERSION := 3
 K_PATCH_LEVEL := 2
 K_SUB_LEVEL := 65
 K_SUFFIX := -1+deb7u2