diff --git a/target/imagebuilder/files/Makefile b/target/imagebuilder/files/Makefile
index 95df8bf113..e0c0132b85 100644
--- a/target/imagebuilder/files/Makefile
+++ b/target/imagebuilder/files/Makefile
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ Building images:
 	make image FILES="<path>" # include extra files from <path>
 	make image BIN_DIR="<path>" # alternative output directory for the images
 	make image EXTRA_IMAGE_NAME="<string>" # Add this to the output image filename (sanitized)
+
+Print manifest:
+	List "all" packages which get installed into the image.
+	You can use the following parameters:
+
+	make manifest PROFILE="<profilename>" # override the default target profile
+	make manifest PACKAGES="<pkg1> [<pkg2> [<pkg3> ...]]" # include extra packages
+
 endef
 $(eval $(call shexport,Helptext))
 
@@ -108,6 +116,13 @@ _call_image: staging_dir/host/.prereq-build
 	$(MAKE) -s build_image
 	$(MAKE) -s checksum
 
+_call_manifest: FORCE
+	rm -rf $(TARGET_DIR)
+	mkdir -p $(TARGET_DIR) $(BIN_DIR) $(TMP_DIR) $(DL_DIR)
+	$(MAKE) package_reload >/dev/null 2>/dev/null
+	$(MAKE) package_install >/dev/null 2>/dev/null
+	$(OPKG) list-installed
+
 package_index: FORCE
 	@echo >&2
 	@echo Building package index... >&2
@@ -164,7 +179,7 @@ info:
 
 PROFILE_FILTER = $(filter DEVICE_$(PROFILE) $(PROFILE),$(PROFILE_NAMES))
 
-image:
+_check_profile: FORCE
 ifneq ($(PROFILE),)
   ifeq ($(PROFILE_FILTER),)
 	@echo 'Profile "$(PROFILE)" does not exist!'
@@ -172,6 +187,9 @@ ifneq ($(PROFILE),)
 	@exit 1
   endif
 endif
+
+image:
+	$(MAKE) -s _check_profile
 	(unset PROFILE FILES PACKAGES MAKEFLAGS; \
 	$(MAKE) -s _call_image \
 		$(if $(PROFILE),USER_PROFILE="$(PROFILE_FILTER)") \
@@ -179,4 +197,11 @@ endif
 		$(if $(PACKAGES),USER_PACKAGES="$(PACKAGES)") \
 		$(if $(BIN_DIR),BIN_DIR="$(BIN_DIR)"))
 
-.SILENT: help info image
+manifest: FORCE
+	$(MAKE) -s _check_profile
+	(unset PROFILE FILES PACKAGES MAKEFLAGS; \
+	$(MAKE) -s _call_manifest \
+		$(if $(PROFILE),USER_PROFILE="$(PROFILE_FILTER)") \
+		$(if $(PACKAGES),USER_PACKAGES="$(PACKAGES)"))
+
+.SILENT: help info image manifest