diff --git a/conf/modules/module.dtd b/conf/modules/module.dtd
index a7044bf731..368fce406a 100644
--- a/conf/modules/module.dtd
+++ b/conf/modules/module.dtd
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ name CDATA #REQUIRED
 
 <!ATTLIST settings
 name CDATA #IMPLIED
+target CDATA #IMPLIED
 >
 
 <!ATTLIST dl_settings
diff --git a/sw/lib/ocaml/gen_common.ml b/sw/lib/ocaml/gen_common.ml
index 211bd9485d..8f4490e817 100644
--- a/sw/lib/ocaml/gen_common.ml
+++ b/sw/lib/ocaml/gen_common.ml
@@ -213,7 +213,18 @@ let is_element_unselected = fun ?(verbose=false) target modules name ->
     | "module" ->
         let unselected = List.for_all (fun m -> m.file <> name) modules in
         if unselected && verbose then
-          begin Printf.printf "Info: module '%s' unloaded for target '%s'\n" name target; flush stdout end;
+          begin Printf.printf "Info: module '%s' unloaded for target '%s'\n" name target; flush stdout end
+        else begin
+          if verbose then
+            (* display possible unloading of settings when the module itself is loaded *)
+            List.iter (fun n ->
+              let tag = Xml.tag n
+              and targets = ExtXml.attrib_or_default n "target" "" in
+              let valid = test_targets target (Str.split (Str.regexp "|") targets) in
+              if tag = "settings" && not (targets = "") && not valid then
+                begin Printf.printf "Info: settings of module '%s' unloaded for target '%s'\n" name target; flush stdout end;
+            ) (Xml.children xml)
+        end;
         unselected
     | _ -> false
   with _ -> false
diff --git a/sw/tools/generators/gen_settings.ml b/sw/tools/generators/gen_settings.ml
index 3dfaafeeaf..59afbd8bf8 100644
--- a/sw/tools/generators/gen_settings.ml
+++ b/sw/tools/generators/gen_settings.ml
@@ -317,7 +317,15 @@ let join_xml_files = fun xml_files ->
               end
               else false
               ) (Xml.children xml)
-            then List.filter (fun t -> Xml.tag t = "settings") (Xml.children xml)
+            then
+              List.filter (fun t ->
+                (* filter xml nodes and keep them if:
+                 * it is a settings node
+                 * the current target is supported in the 'target' attribute
+                 * if no 'target' attribute always keep it
+                 *)
+                Xml.tag t = "settings" && supports_target target (ExtXml.attrib_or_default t "target" target)
+              ) (Xml.children xml)
             else []
           end
           else begin