diff --git a/make/cfg_dev.mk b/make/cfg_dev.mk
index aec2471b..b9be5780 100644
--- a/make/cfg_dev.mk
+++ b/make/cfg_dev.mk
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ FTP_PUB_DIR_ABS  = $(JANNET_PROJ_DIR)/$(PROJECT)
 PROFILE_DIR      = $(HOME)/.profile.d
 ROOTOWNER        = $(shell id -un)
 ROOTGROUP        = $(shell id -gn)
+IMAGEDIR         = $(TOPDIR)/../images
 
 # -- overrides
 INSTALL_BINDIR   = $(HOME)/local/bin
diff --git a/make/cfg_dist.mk b/make/cfg_dist.mk
index 7822747f..79d1a42b 100644
--- a/make/cfg_dist.mk
+++ b/make/cfg_dist.mk
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ LIBTYPE          = shared
 PROFILE_DIR      = $(ENV_PREFIX)/etc/profile.d
 ROOTOWNER        = root
 ROOTGROUP        = root
+IMAGEDIR         = $(TOPDIR)/images
 
 # -- debugging options