diff --git a/package/skeleton-init-common/skeleton-init-common.mk b/package/skeleton-init-common/skeleton-init-common.mk
index 8228a8103f..e8a0522052 100644
--- a/package/skeleton-init-common/skeleton-init-common.mk
+++ b/package/skeleton-init-common/skeleton-init-common.mk
@@ -79,6 +79,13 @@ define SKELETON_INIT_COMMON_SET_BIN_SH
 	rm -f $(TARGET_DIR)/bin/sh
 endef
 else
+# Add /bin/sh to /etc/shells otherwise some login tools like dropbear
+# can reject the user connection. See man shells.
+define SKELETON_INIT_COMMON_ADD_SH_TO_SHELLS
+	grep -qsE '^/bin/sh$$' $(TARGET_DIR)/etc/shells \
+		|| echo "/bin/sh" >> $(TARGET_DIR)/etc/shells
+endef
+SKELETON_INIT_COMMON_TARGET_FINALIZE_HOOKS += SKELETON_INIT_COMMON_ADD_SH_TO_SHELLS
 ifneq ($(SKELETON_INIT_COMMON_BIN_SH),)
 define SKELETON_INIT_COMMON_SET_BIN_SH
 	ln -sf $(SKELETON_INIT_COMMON_BIN_SH) $(TARGET_DIR)/bin/sh