diff --git a/Makefile.rules b/Makefile.rules
index 8634487ae6..52f61d486e 100644
--- a/Makefile.rules
+++ b/Makefile.rules
@@ -924,8 +924,9 @@ coverage:
 ########################################################################
 
 PKG_BOOTSTRAP_URL = https://www.gap-system.org/pub/gap/gap4pkgs/
-PKG_MINIMAL = packages-required-master.tar.gz
-PKG_FULL = packages-master.tar.gz
+PKG_BRANCH = master # change to stable-X.Y in stable branch
+PKG_MINIMAL = packages-required-$(PKG_BRANCH).tar.gz
+PKG_FULL = packages-$(PKG_BRANCH).tar.gz
 WGET = wget -N
 
 bootstrap-pkg-minimal: