diff --git a/make/py-defs.mk b/make/py-defs.mk
index fee7f5a8..5772cc52 100644
--- a/make/py-defs.mk
+++ b/make/py-defs.mk
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ ifneq ($(PY_INSTALL_DIR),)
   PY_INSTALL_DIR_PY         ?= $(PY_INSTALL_DIR)
 endif
 
+PY_INSTALL_INIT_PY          ?= true
+
 # deduce PY_INSTALL_DIR_PY from working directory below .. python/
 ifeq ($(PY_INSTALL_DIR_PY),)
   PY_INSTALL_PKG_MOD        ?= $(shell $(ECHO) $(CWD) | $(SED) 's%.*/python/%%; s%/.*%%')
@@ -32,7 +34,9 @@ ifeq ($(PY_INSTALL_DIR_PY),)
     PY_INSTALL_MOD          ?= $(PY_INSTALL_PKG_MOD)
   endif
   PY_MOD                    ?= $(subst /,.,$(PY_INSTALL_MOD))
-  PY_ALL_PY                 += __init__.py
+  ifeq ($(PY_INSTALL_INIT_PY),true)
+    PY_ALL_PY               += __init__.py
+  endif
   PY_INSTALL_DIR_PY         ?= $(ENV_PREFIX)$(PY_SITE_PACKAGES_PATH)/$(patsubst .,/,$(PY_INSTALL_MOD))
 else
   ifeq ($(PY_INSTALL_DIR_PY),)