diff --git a/Mk/devel.mk b/Mk/devel.mk
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1a8bfd79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Mk/devel.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Franco Fichtner <franco@opnsense.org>
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+# are met:
+#
+# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#
+# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+# ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+# OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+# HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+# LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+# OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+# SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+# This file merely exists on the development
+# branch to force plugins to development mode:
+PLUGIN_DEVEL?=		yes
diff --git a/Mk/plugins.mk b/Mk/plugins.mk
index a0505d93d..ccc496a2b 100644
--- a/Mk/plugins.mk
+++ b/Mk/plugins.mk
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ _PLUGIN_COMMENT:=	${PLUGIN_COMMENT}
 .if defined(_PLUGIN_DEVEL)
 PLUGIN_DEVEL?:=		${_PLUGIN_DEVEL}
 .else
-PLUGIN_DEVEL?=		yes
+.-include "devel.mk"
 .endif
 
 PLUGIN_PREFIX?=		os-