diff --git a/package/libcap/libcap.mk b/package/libcap/libcap.mk
index dcd3a184ab..6adac73096 100644
--- a/package/libcap/libcap.mk
+++ b/package/libcap/libcap.mk
@@ -15,19 +15,27 @@ LIBCAP_LICENSE_FILES = License
 LIBCAP_DEPENDENCIES = host-libcap
 LIBCAP_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_ATTR),y)
+	LIBCAP_DEPENDENCIES += attr
+	LIBCAP_HAVE_LIBATTR = yes
+else
+	LIBCAP_HAVE_LIBATTR = no
+endif
+
 define LIBCAP_BUILD_CMDS
 	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(TARGET_CONFIGURE_OPTS) $(MAKE) -C $(@D) \
-		LIBATTR=no BUILD_CC="$(HOSTCC)" BUILD_CFLAGS="$(HOST_CFLAGS)"
+		LIBATTR=$(LIBCAP_HAVE_LIBATTR) BUILD_CC="$(HOSTCC)" \
+		BUILD_CFLAGS="$(HOST_CFLAGS)"
 endef
 
 define LIBCAP_INSTALL_STAGING_CMDS
-	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) -C $(@D) LIBATTR=no DESTDIR=$(STAGING_DIR) \
-		prefix=/usr lib=lib install
+	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) -C $(@D) LIBATTR=$(LIBCAP_HAVE_LIBATTR) \
+		DESTDIR=$(STAGING_DIR) prefix=/usr lib=lib install
 endef
 
 define LIBCAP_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS
-	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) -C $(@D) LIBATTR=no DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) \
-		prefix=/usr lib=lib install
+	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) -C $(@D) LIBATTR=$(LIBCAP_HAVE_LIBATTR) \
+		DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) prefix=/usr lib=lib install
 endef
 
 # progs use fork()