diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a1741dd961f8..c221cb89e021 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -425,7 +425,8 @@ define SET_SILENT_MODE
     endif
 endef
 
-include $(ROOT_DIR)/message.mk
+include paths.mk
+include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/message.mk
 
 ifeq ($(strip $(BREAK_ON_ERRORS)), yes)
 HANDLE_ERROR = exit 1
diff --git a/build_keyboard.mk b/build_keyboard.mk
index c1f4f93381e4..36c628c7cebf 100644
--- a/build_keyboard.mk
+++ b/build_keyboard.mk
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ endif
 
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := all
 
-include common.mk
+include paths.mk
+include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/message.mk
 
 # Set the qmk cli to use
 QMK_BIN ?= qmk
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ ifeq ($(strip $(CONVERT_TO_PROTON_C)), yes)
     include platforms/chibios/boards/QMK_PROTON_C/convert_to_proton_c.mk
 endif
 
-include quantum/mcu_selection.mk
+include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/mcu_selection.mk
 
 # Find all the C source files to be compiled in subfolders.
 KEYBOARD_SRC :=
@@ -342,7 +343,7 @@ ifneq ("$(wildcard $(USER_PATH)/post_config.h)","")
 endif
 
 # Disable features that a keyboard doesn't support
--include disable_features.mk
+-include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/disable_features.mk
 
 # Pull in post_rules.mk files from all our subfolders
 ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH_1)/post_rules.mk)","")
@@ -385,10 +386,10 @@ VPATH += $(KEYBOARD_PATHS)
 VPATH += $(COMMON_VPATH)
 
 include common_features.mk
-include generic_features.mk
+include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/generic_features.mk
 include $(TMK_PATH)/protocol.mk
 include $(TMK_PATH)/common.mk
-include bootloader.mk
+include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/bootloader.mk
 
 SRC += $(patsubst %.c,%.clib,$(LIB_SRC))
 SRC += $(patsubst %.c,%.clib,$(QUANTUM_LIB_SRC))
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ check-size: build
 check-md5: build
 objs-size: build
 
-include show_options.mk
+include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/show_options.mk
 include $(TMK_PATH)/rules.mk
 
 # Ensure we have generated files available for each of the objects
diff --git a/build_test.mk b/build_test.mk
index dd66a008ee67..8f1ff1e849b3 100644
--- a/build_test.mk
+++ b/build_test.mk
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ endif
 
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := all
 
-include common.mk
+include paths.mk
+include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/message.mk
 
 TARGET=test/$(TEST)
 
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ include tests/$(TEST)/rules.mk
 endif
 
 include common_features.mk
-include generic_features.mk
+include $(BUILDDEFS_PATH)/generic_features.mk
 include $(TMK_PATH)/common.mk
 include $(QUANTUM_PATH)/debounce/tests/rules.mk
 include $(QUANTUM_PATH)/sequencer/tests/rules.mk
diff --git a/bootloader.mk b/builddefs/bootloader.mk
similarity index 100%
rename from bootloader.mk
rename to builddefs/bootloader.mk
diff --git a/disable_features.mk b/builddefs/disable_features.mk
similarity index 100%
rename from disable_features.mk
rename to builddefs/disable_features.mk
diff --git a/generic_features.mk b/builddefs/generic_features.mk
similarity index 100%
rename from generic_features.mk
rename to builddefs/generic_features.mk
diff --git a/quantum/mcu_selection.mk b/builddefs/mcu_selection.mk
similarity index 100%
rename from quantum/mcu_selection.mk
rename to builddefs/mcu_selection.mk
diff --git a/message.mk b/builddefs/message.mk
similarity index 100%
rename from message.mk
rename to builddefs/message.mk
diff --git a/show_options.mk b/builddefs/show_options.mk
similarity index 100%
rename from show_options.mk
rename to builddefs/show_options.mk
diff --git a/common.mk b/paths.mk
similarity index 91%
rename from common.mk
rename to paths.mk
index 8acea39376e6..78eaf3996768 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/paths.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include message.mk
-
 # Directory common source files exist
 TOP_DIR = .
 TMK_DIR = tmk_core
@@ -15,6 +13,9 @@ DRIVER_PATH = $(DRIVER_DIR)
 PLATFORM_DIR = platforms
 PLATFORM_PATH = $(PLATFORM_DIR)
 
+BUILDDEFS_DIR = builddefs
+BUILDDEFS_PATH = $(BUILDDEFS_DIR)
+
 BUILD_DIR := .build
 
 COMMON_VPATH := $(TOP_DIR)