diff --git a/system/Config.in b/system/Config.in
index 5063797976..b8b7c16529 100644
--- a/system/Config.in
+++ b/system/Config.in
@@ -402,7 +402,8 @@ endif # BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_DEFAULT
 
 config BR2_SYSTEM_DEFAULT_PATH
 	string "Set the system's default PATH"
-	default "/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin"
+	default "/usr/bin:/usr/sbin" if BR2_ROOTFS_MERGED_USR
+	default "/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin" if !BR2_ROOTFS_MERGED_USR
 	help
 	  Sets the system's default PATH. It is being used in
 	  /etc/profile in the skeleton-init-common package and by some