diff --git a/makefile b/makefile
index 4efdcb93..09a6ab5f 100644
--- a/makefile
+++ b/makefile
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@ ifneq ($(findstring $(LKROOT),$(LKINC)), $(LKROOT))
 LKINC := $(LKROOT) $(LKINC)
 endif
 
+# add the external path to LKINC
+ifneq ($(LKROOT),.)
+LKINC += $(LKROOT)/external
+else
+LKINC += external
+endif
+
 export LKMAKEROOT
 export LKROOT
 export LKINC