diff --git a/package/lighttpd/Config.in b/package/lighttpd/Config.in
index 4406a685ba..6f0c927319 100644
--- a/package/lighttpd/Config.in
+++ b/package/lighttpd/Config.in
@@ -61,6 +61,15 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_LIGHTTPD_MAXMINDDB
 	help
 	  Enable MaxMind GeoIP2 support. Needed to support mod_maxminddb
 
+config BR2_PACKAGE_LIGHTTPD_MYSQL
+	bool "mysql support"
+	depends on BR2_PACKAGE_MARIADB
+	help
+	  Enable mysql support for lighttpd mod_vhostdb_mysql.
+
+comment "mysql support needs mariadb"
+	depends on !BR2_PACKAGE_MARIADB
+
 config BR2_PACKAGE_LIGHTTPD_OPENSSL
 	bool "openssl support"
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_OPENSSL
diff --git a/package/lighttpd/lighttpd.mk b/package/lighttpd/lighttpd.mk
index 49ab8587f7..595c59cb37 100644
--- a/package/lighttpd/lighttpd.mk
+++ b/package/lighttpd/lighttpd.mk
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ LIGHTTPD_CONF_OPTS = \
 	-Dwith_libev=false \
 	-Dwith_libunwind=false \
 	-Dwith_mbedtls=false \
-	-Dwith_mysql=false \
 	-Dwith_nettle=false \
 	-Dwith_nss=false \
 	-Dwith_pcre=false \
@@ -73,6 +72,13 @@ else
 LIGHTTPD_CONF_OPTS += -Dwith_maxminddb=false
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIGHTTPD_MYSQL),y)
+LIGHTTPD_DEPENDENCIES += mysql
+LIGHTTPD_CONF_OPTS += -Dwith_mysql=true
+else
+LIGHTTPD_CONF_OPTS += -Dwith_mysql=false
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIGHTTPD_OPENSSL),y)
 LIGHTTPD_DEPENDENCIES += openssl
 LIGHTTPD_CONF_OPTS += -Dwith_openssl=true