diff --git a/cmake/OpenCVDetectPython.cmake b/cmake/OpenCVDetectPython.cmake
index c93eb9f9a7..88a4341856 100644
--- a/cmake/OpenCVDetectPython.cmake
+++ b/cmake/OpenCVDetectPython.cmake
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ if(NOT ${found})
   set(${include_path} "${_include_path}" CACHE INTERNAL "")
   set(${include_dir} "${_include_dir}" CACHE PATH "Python include dir")
   set(${include_dir2} "${_include_dir2}" CACHE PATH "Python include dir 2")
-  set(${packages_path} "${_packages_path}" CACHE PATH "Where to install the python packages.")
+  set(${packages_path} "${_packages_path}" CACHE STRING "Where to install the python packages.")
   set(${numpy_include_dirs} ${_numpy_include_dirs} CACHE PATH "Path to numpy headers")
   set(${numpy_version} "${_numpy_version}" CACHE INTERNAL "")
 endif()