diff --git a/package/opensc/opensc.mk b/package/opensc/opensc.mk
index f4dc2206ea..008de9d4c2 100644
--- a/package/opensc/opensc.mk
+++ b/package/opensc/opensc.mk
@@ -20,4 +20,11 @@ else
 OPENSC_CONF_OPTS += --disable-openssl
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_ZLIB),y)
+OPENSC_DEPENDENCIES += zlib
+OPENSC_CONF_OPTS += --enable-zlib
+else
+OPENSC_CONF_OPTS += --disable-zlib
+endif
+
 $(eval $(autotools-package))