diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index cc8124a..a7625ba 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ silentoldconfig: $(BUILD_DIR)/buildroot-config/conf outputmakefile
 
 defconfig: $(BUILD_DIR)/buildroot-config/conf outputmakefile
 	@mkdir -p $(BUILD_DIR)/buildroot-config
-	@$(COMMON_CONFIG_ENV) $< --defconfig $(CONFIG_CONFIG_IN)
+	@$(COMMON_CONFIG_ENV) $< --defconfig$(if $(BR2_DEFCONFIG),=$(BR2_DEFCONFIG)) $(CONFIG_CONFIG_IN)
 
 %_defconfig: $(BUILD_DIR)/buildroot-config/conf $(TOPDIR)/configs/%_defconfig outputmakefile
 	@mkdir -p $(BUILD_DIR)/buildroot-config
@@ -603,6 +603,7 @@ help:
 	@echo '  oldconfig              - resolve any unresolved symbols in .config'
 	@echo '  randconfig             - New config with random answer to all options'
 	@echo '  defconfig              - New config with default answer to all options'
+	@echo '                             BR2_DEFCONFIG, if set, is used as input'
 	@echo '  savedefconfig          - Save current config as ./defconfig (minimal config)'
 	@echo '  allyesconfig           - New config where all options are accepted with yes'
 	@echo '  allnoconfig            - New config where all options are answered with no'