diff --git a/boot/syslinux/Config.in b/boot/syslinux/Config.in
index 2c39e65157..5b1122d6fc 100644
--- a/boot/syslinux/Config.in
+++ b/boot/syslinux/Config.in
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 config BR2_TARGET_SYSLINUX
 	bool "syslinux"
 	depends on BR2_i386 || BR2_x86_64
+	select BR2_HOSTARCH_NEEDS_IA32_COMPILER
 	help
 	  The syslinux bootloader for x86 systems.
 	  This includes: syslinux, pxelinux, extlinux.