diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 99914e38f..e1ced4bf8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -33,11 +33,15 @@ CORE_NICKNAME?=	Not Yet
 CORE_NAME?=	opnsense-devel
 CORE_TYPE?=	development
 
-.for REPLACEMENT in ABI PHP PYTHON
-. if empty(CORE_${REPLACEMENT})
-.  error Cannot build without CORE_${REPLACEMENT} set
-. endif
-.endfor
+.if empty(CORE_DEVABI)
+. for REPLACEMENT in ABI PHP PYTHON
+.  if empty(CORE_${REPLACEMENT})
+.   error Cannot build without CORE_${REPLACEMENT} set
+.  endif
+. endfor
+.else
+CORE_ABI=	${CORE_DEVABI}
+.endif
 
 _CORE_NEXT=	${CORE_ABI:C/\./ /}
 .if ${_CORE_NEXT:[2]} == 7