diff --git a/docs/manual/adding-packages-kconfig.txt b/docs/manual/adding-packages-kconfig.txt
index 8f40ea6099..a35681775f 100644
--- a/docs/manual/adding-packages-kconfig.txt
+++ b/docs/manual/adding-packages-kconfig.txt
@@ -91,3 +91,6 @@ be set to suit the needs of the package under consideration:
 * +FOO_KCONFIG_DEPENDENCIES+: the list of packages (most probably, host
   packages) that need to be built before this package's kconfig is
   interpreted. Seldom used. By default, empty.
+
+* +FOO_KCONFIG_SUPPORTS_DEFCONFIG+: whether the package's kconfig system
+  supports using defconfig files; few packages do not. By default, 'YES'.
diff --git a/package/pkg-kconfig.mk b/package/pkg-kconfig.mk
index 49074f9220..715c3e04ec 100644
--- a/package/pkg-kconfig.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-kconfig.mk
@@ -85,11 +85,35 @@ $(2)_KCONFIG_OPTS ?=
 $(2)_KCONFIG_FIXUP_CMDS ?=
 $(2)_KCONFIG_FRAGMENT_FILES ?=
 $(2)_KCONFIG_DOTCONFIG ?= .config
+$(2)_KCONFIG_SUPPORTS_DEFCONFIG ?= YES
 
 # Register the kconfig dependencies as regular dependencies, so that
 # they are also accounted for in the generated graphs.
 $(2)_DEPENDENCIES += $$($(2)_KCONFIG_DEPENDENCIES)
 
+# Generate the kconfig-related help: one entry for each editor.
+# Additionally, if the package is *not* using an in-tree defconfig
+# name, an entry for updating the package configuration file.
+ifndef $(2)_HELP_CMDS
+define $(2)_HELP_CMDS
+	$$(foreach editor, $$($(2)_KCONFIG_EDITORS), \
+		@printf '  %-22s - Run %s %s\n' $(1)-$$(editor) $(1) $$(editor)
+	)
+	$$(if $$($(2)_KCONFIG_DEFCONFIG),,\
+		$$(if $$(filter YES,$$($(2)_KCONFIG_SUPPORTS_DEFCONFIG)),\
+			@printf '  %-22s - Save the %s configuration as a defconfig file\n' \
+				$(1)-update-defconfig $(1)
+			@printf '  %-22s     to %s\n' '' $$($(2)_KCONFIG_FILE)
+			@printf '  %-22s     (or override with %s_KCONFIG_FILE)\n' '' $(2)
+		)
+		@printf '  %-22s - Save the %s configuration as a full .config file\n' \
+			$(1)-update-config $(1)
+		@printf '  %-22s     to %s\n' '' $$($(2)_KCONFIG_FILE)
+		@printf '  %-22s     (or override with %s_KCONFIG_FILE)\n' '' $(2)
+	)
+endef
+endif
+
 # Call the generic package infrastructure to generate the necessary
 # make targets.
 # Note: this must be done _before_ attempting to use $$($(2)_DIR) in a