diff --git a/package/python-pypng/Config.in b/package/python-pypng/Config.in
index c1ed405615..952b46c2c5 100644
--- a/package/python-pypng/Config.in
+++ b/package/python-pypng/Config.in
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_PYPNG
 	bool "python-pypng"
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON3_ZLIB # runtime
 	help
 	  Pure Python library for saving and loading PNG images.