diff --git a/sys/Makefile b/sys/Makefile
index 6e3702727c6c..e8656b311bc6 100644
--- a/sys/Makefile
+++ b/sys/Makefile
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ SUBDIR=	boot
 SUBDIR+=modules
 .endif
 
+afterdistribute:
+	${INSTALL} ${COPY} -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 444 \
+		${.CURDIR}/${MACHINE_ARCH}/conf/GENERIC.hints \
+		${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints
+
 HTAGSFLAGS+= -at `awk -F= '/^RELEASE *=/{release=$2}; END {print "FreeBSD", release, "kernel"}' < conf/newvers.sh`
 
 .include <bsd.subdir.mk>