--- a/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/lib/ar71xx.sh
+++ b/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/lib/ar71xx.sh
@@ -1453,3 +1453,11 @@ ar71xx_board_detect() {
 	echo "$AR71XX_BOARD_NAME" > /tmp/sysinfo/board_name
 	echo "$AR71XX_MODEL" > /tmp/sysinfo/model
 }
+ar71xx_board_name() {
+        local name
+
+        [ -f /tmp/sysinfo/board_name ] && name=$(cat /tmp/sysinfo/board_name)
+        [ -z "$name" ] && name="unknown"
+
+        echo "$name"
+}