diff --git a/lib/distro.mk b/lib/distro.mk
index 2ec803c5..d1316dc4 100644
--- a/lib/distro.mk
+++ b/lib/distro.mk
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ endif
 
 # NB: the last flavour in KFLAVOURS gets to be the default one;
 # the kernel packages regexp evaluation has to take place at build stage
-distro/.base: distro/.boot use/kernel
+distro/.base: distro/.boot use/kernel use/branding/notes
 	@$(call try,META_SYSTEM_ID,LINUX)
 
 # this one should not be fundamental as it appears (think armh)
diff --git a/lib/ve.mk b/lib/ve.mk
index 92c67f9d..e23be0da 100644
--- a/lib/ve.mk
+++ b/lib/ve.mk
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ endif
 ifeq (ve,$(IMAGE_CLASS))
 
 # no package management and networking
-ve/.bare: profile/bare
+ve/.bare: profile/bare use/branding/notes
 	@$(call add,BASE_PACKAGES,basesystem)
 
 # add package management
diff --git a/lib/vm.mk b/lib/vm.mk
index c051868a..55a5fc37 100644
--- a/lib/vm.mk
+++ b/lib/vm.mk
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ endif
 
 ifeq (vm,$(IMAGE_CLASS))
 
-vm/.bare: profile/bare
+vm/.bare: profile/bare use/branding/notes
 	@$(call add,BASE_PACKAGES,interactivesystem shadow-utils e2fsprogs)
 
 ifeq (,$(filter-out i586 x86_64 ppc64le,$(ARCH)))