diff --git a/apt.sources/README.md b/apt.sources/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7969572
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apt.sources/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+This directory contains files to define the settings needed for each
+upstream dpkg repository.
diff --git a/apt.sources/armbian.conf b/apt.sources/armbian.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..142e3d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apt.sources/armbian.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#
+# The definitions needed to download packages from the armbian repo
+#
+# TODO
+# - split this file into a real sources.list and a key file
+
+REPO_KEY=https://apt.armbian.com/armbian.key
+REPO_SRC="deb http://apt.armbian.com jessie main"
+
diff --git a/apt.sources/cjdns.conf b/apt.sources/cjdns.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54af008
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apt.sources/cjdns.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#
+# The definitions needed to download packages from the armbian repo
+#
+# TODO
+# - split this file into a real sources.list and a key file
+
+REPO_KEY=https://ban.ai/raspbian/brrpi.pubkey
+REPO_SRC="deb https://ban.ai/raspbian/ cjdns cjdns"
+
diff --git a/apt.sources/raspbian.conf b/apt.sources/raspbian.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..433f0a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apt.sources/raspbian.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#
+# The definitions needed to download packages from the raspbian repo
+#
+# TODO
+# - split this file into a real sources.list and a key file
+
+REPO_KEY=https://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian/raspberrypi.gpg.key
+REPO_SRC="deb http://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian/ jessie main"
+
diff --git a/boards/raspberrypi2/Makefile b/boards/raspberrypi2/Makefile
index 5cd12be..dbbc68d 100644
--- a/boards/raspberrypi2/Makefile
+++ b/boards/raspberrypi2/Makefile
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ all: image
 include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-partitions.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-firmware-raspbian.mk
-include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common-raspbian.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-cjdns-hack.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-initrd.mk
 
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ test:
 	false
 
 $(TAG)/raspberrypi:
-	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) $(RASPBIAN_KEY) $(RASPBIAN_REPO) $(RASPBERRYPI) $(RASPBIAN_BOOT_PKG) $(RASPBIAN_KERNEL_PKG)
+	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) raspbian $(RASPBERRYPI) $(RASPBIAN_BOOT_PKG) $(RASPBIAN_KERNEL_PKG)
 	$(call tag,raspberrypi)
 
 # Add the kernel specific binaries to this cpio file
diff --git a/boards/sun4i-a10-cubieboard/Makefile b/boards/sun4i-a10-cubieboard/Makefile
index 17b2d76..1c830e0 100644
--- a/boards/sun4i-a10-cubieboard/Makefile
+++ b/boards/sun4i-a10-cubieboard/Makefile
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-partitions.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-allwinner.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-kernel-local.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-firmware-armbian.mk
-include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common-armbian.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-cjdns-hack.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-initrd.mk
 
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ test:
 # Everything below this line is HW specific Armbian u-Boot startup code
 
 $(TAG)/armbian:
-	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) $(ARMBIAN_KEY) $(ARMBIAN_REPO) $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_UBOOT_PKG)
+	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) armbian $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_UBOOT_PKG)
 	$(call tag,armbian)
 
 $(BOOT): $(TAG)/boot
diff --git a/boards/sun7i-a20-bananapi/Makefile b/boards/sun7i-a20-bananapi/Makefile
index efd69f3..f2b9147 100644
--- a/boards/sun7i-a20-bananapi/Makefile
+++ b/boards/sun7i-a20-bananapi/Makefile
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-partitions.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-allwinner.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-kernel-local.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-firmware-armbian.mk
-include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common-armbian.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-cjdns-hack.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-initrd.mk
 
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ test:
 # Everything below this line is HW specific Armbian u-Boot startup code
 
 $(TAG)/armbian:
-	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) $(ARMBIAN_KEY) $(ARMBIAN_REPO) $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_UBOOT_PKG)
+	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) armbian $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_UBOOT_PKG)
 	$(call tag,armbian)
 
 $(BOOT): $(TAG)/boot
diff --git a/boards/sun8i-h2-plus-orangepi-zero/Makefile b/boards/sun8i-h2-plus-orangepi-zero/Makefile
index 5017ff2..bfaec52 100644
--- a/boards/sun8i-h2-plus-orangepi-zero/Makefile
+++ b/boards/sun8i-h2-plus-orangepi-zero/Makefile
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-partitions.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-allwinner.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-kernel-local.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-firmware-armbian.mk
-include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common-armbian.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-cjdns-hack.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-initrd.mk
 
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ test:
 # Everything below this line is HW specific u-Boot startup code
 
 $(TAG)/armbian:
-	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) $(ARMBIAN_KEY) $(ARMBIAN_REPO) $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_UBOOT_PKG)
+	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) armbian $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_UBOOT_PKG)
 	$(call tag,armbian)
 
 $(BOOT): $(TAG)/boot
diff --git a/boards/sun8i-h3-orangepi-lite/Makefile b/boards/sun8i-h3-orangepi-lite/Makefile
index 1bae2fc..40ac1cc 100644
--- a/boards/sun8i-h3-orangepi-lite/Makefile
+++ b/boards/sun8i-h3-orangepi-lite/Makefile
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-partitions.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-allwinner.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-firmware-armbian.mk
-include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common-armbian.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-cjdns-hack.mk
 include $(TOP_DIR)/boards/common-initrd.mk
 
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ test:
 # Everything below this line is HW specific Armbian u-Boot startup code
 
 $(TAG)/armbian:
-	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) $(ARMBIAN_KEY) $(ARMBIAN_REPO) $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_UBOOT_PKG) $(ARMBIAN_KERNEL_PKG)
+	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) armbian $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_UBOOT_PKG) $(ARMBIAN_KERNEL_PKG)
 	$(call tag,armbian)
 
 # Add the kernel specific binaries to this cpio file
diff --git a/cjdns/hack/Makefile b/cjdns/hack/Makefile
index 6508fd4..0d959fa 100644
--- a/cjdns/hack/Makefile
+++ b/cjdns/hack/Makefile
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@ endif
 BUILD_DEPENDS = \
     apt-transport-https
 
-REPOKEY = https://ban.ai/raspbian/brrpi.pubkey
-REPO = "deb https://ban.ai/raspbian/ cjdns cjdns"
-
 PKG = cjdns
 
 # Directories
@@ -39,7 +36,7 @@ build-depends: Makefile
 cjdns: $(CJDNS).cpio
 
 $(CJDNS):
-	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) $(REPOKEY) $(REPO) $@ $(PKG)
+	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) cjdns $@ $(PKG)
 
 $(CJDNS).cpio: $(CJDNS)
 	( \
diff --git a/firmware/Makefile b/firmware/Makefile
index 66a97ae..6e75a45 100644
--- a/firmware/Makefile
+++ b/firmware/Makefile
@@ -25,13 +25,11 @@ export TOP_DIR
 all: firmware
 
 include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common.mk
-include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common-armbian.mk
-include $(TOP_DIR)/mk/common-raspbian.mk
 
 firmware: $(BUILD)/firmware-raspbian.cpio $(BUILD)/firmware-armbian.cpio
 
 $(TAG)/armbian:
-	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) $(ARMBIAN_KEY) $(ARMBIAN_REPO) $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_FIRMWARE_PKG)
+	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) armbian $(ARMBIAN) $(ARMBIAN_FIRMWARE_PKG)
 	$(call tag,armbian)
 
 # Add the kernel specific binaries to this cpio file
@@ -45,7 +43,7 @@ CLEAN_FILES += $(ARMBIAN) $(BUILD)/firmware-armbian.cpio $(BUILD)/firmware-armbi
 
 
 $(TAG)/raspbian:
-	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) $(RASPBIAN_KEY) $(RASPBIAN_REPO) $(RASPBIAN) $(RASPBIAN_FIRMWARE_PKG)
+	$(TOP_DIR)/scripts/get_deb $(DEBIAN_ARCH) raspbian $(RASPBIAN) $(RASPBIAN_FIRMWARE_PKG)
 	$(call tag,raspbian)
 
 # Add the kernel specific binaries to this cpio file
diff --git a/mk/common-armbian.mk b/mk/common-armbian.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 8687d61..0000000
--- a/mk/common-armbian.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-#
-# The definitions needed to download packages from the armbian repo
-#
-
-ARMBIAN_KEY = https://apt.armbian.com/armbian.key
-ARMBIAN_REPO = "deb http://apt.armbian.com jessie main"
-
diff --git a/mk/common-raspbian.mk b/mk/common-raspbian.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 50bd6c4..0000000
--- a/mk/common-raspbian.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-#
-# The definitions needed to download packages from the raspbian repo
-#
-
-RASPBIAN_KEY = https://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian/raspberrypi.gpg.key
-RASPBIAN_REPO = "deb http://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian/ jessie main"
-
diff --git a/scripts/get_deb b/scripts/get_deb
index 26b206b..5fde201 100755
--- a/scripts/get_deb
+++ b/scripts/get_deb
@@ -8,17 +8,14 @@ set -e
 ARCH="$1"
 shift
 
-REPO_KEY="$1"
-shift
-
-REPO_SRC="$1"
+REPO="$1"
 shift
 
 OUTDIR="$1"
 shift
 
-if [ -z "$ARCH" -o -z "$REPO_KEY" -o -z "$REPO_SRC" -o -z "$OUTDIR" -o -z "$1" ]; then
-    echo "Usage: $0 arch repo_key repo_sources unpackdir pkg..."
+if [ -z "$ARCH" -o -z "$REPO" -o -z "$OUTDIR" -o -z "$1" ]; then
+    echo "Usage: $0 arch repo unpackdir pkg..."
     exit 1
 fi
 
@@ -27,6 +24,17 @@ if [ -z "$TOP_DIR" ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+if [ ! -r "$TOP_DIR/apt.sources/$REPO.conf" ]; then
+    echo "No definition found for repo called $REPO"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+. "$TOP_DIR/apt.sources/$REPO.conf"
+if [ -z "$REPO_KEY" -o -z "$REPO_SRC" ]; then
+    echo "repo definition file did not define correct vars"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 mkdir -p "$OUTDIR"
 cd  "$OUTDIR"