diff --git a/make/defs.mk b/make/defs.mk
index 5a0ca36f..031eeb42 100644
--- a/make/defs.mk
+++ b/make/defs.mk
@@ -1374,6 +1374,18 @@ EXE_SEARCH_PATH           += $(VALDI_DIR)/bin
 PREREQ                    += VALDI
 endif
 
+ifneq ($(filter shell,$(PREREQ_BUILD)),)
+SHELL_DIR                   = $(firstword $(wildcard $(CVS_PROJ_DIR)/shell /opt/$(FLAVOUR_PATH_PREFIX)shell))
+SHELL_VERSION               = $(call version,$(SHELL_DIR))
+RPM_REQUIRES_RUN           += $(FLAVOUR_PREFIX)shell-run = $(SHELL_VERSION)
+RPM_REQUIRES_DEVEL         += $(FLAVOUR_PREFIX)shell-devel = $(SHELL_VERSION)
+PREREQ_BUILD              += ytools
+INCLUDE                   += -I$(SHELL_DIR)/include
+LIBFLAGS                  += -L$(SHELL_DIR)/lib -lshell
+EXE_SEARCH_PATH           += $(SHELL_DIR)/bin
+PREREQ                    += SHELL
+endif
+
 ifneq ($(filter wt-jannet,$(PREREQ_BUILD)),)
 USE_WT                     = true
 include $(MODDIR)/make/wt-defs.mk