diff --git a/meta/classes/base.bbclass b/meta/classes/base.bbclass
index 170069460d..d020964a01 100644
--- a/meta/classes/base.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/base.bbclass
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ python () {
 
     # If PRINC is set, try and increase the PR value by the amount specified
     princ = bb.data.getVar('PRINC', d, True)
-    if princ:
+    if princ and princ != "0":
         pr = bb.data.getVar('PR', d, True)
         pr_prefix = re.search("\D+",pr)
         prval = re.search("\d+",pr)
diff --git a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
index b58cbef488..074a5c6080 100644
--- a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
+++ b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@ ASSUME_PROVIDED = "\
 PN = "${@bb.parse.BBHandler.vars_from_file(bb.data.getVar('FILE',d),d)[0] or 'defaultpkgname'}"
 PV = "${@bb.parse.BBHandler.vars_from_file(bb.data.getVar('FILE',d),d)[1] or '1.0'}"
 PR = "${@bb.parse.BBHandler.vars_from_file(bb.data.getVar('FILE',d),d)[2] or 'r0'}"
+PRINC ?= "0"
 PF = "${PN}-${EXTENDPE}${PV}-${PR}"
 EXTENDPE = "${@['','${PE\x7d_'][bb.data.getVar('PE',d,1) > 0]}"
 P = "${PN}-${PV}"