diff --git a/fs/common.mk b/fs/common.mk
index aa9d961964..9f3262019b 100644
--- a/fs/common.mk
+++ b/fs/common.mk
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ USERS_TABLE = $(BUILD_DIR)/_users_table.txt
 define ROOTFS_TARGET_INTERNAL
 
 # extra deps
-ROOTFS_$(2)_DEPENDENCIES += host-fakeroot host-makedevs
+ROOTFS_$(2)_DEPENDENCIES += host-fakeroot host-makedevs \
+	$(if $(PACKAGES_USERS),host-mkpasswd)
 
 ifeq ($$(BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_$(2)_GZIP),y)
 ROOTFS_$(2)_COMPRESS_EXT = .gz