diff --git a/package/hostapd/hostapd.mk b/package/hostapd/hostapd.mk
index 37de60d953..5b7dd77483 100644
--- a/package/hostapd/hostapd.mk
+++ b/package/hostapd/hostapd.mk
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ endif
 # Try to use openssl if it's already available
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_OPENSSL),y)
 	HOSTAPD_DEPENDENCIES += openssl
+	HOSTAPD_LIBS += $(if $(BR2_PREFER_STATIC_LIB),-lcrypto -lz)
 	HOSTAPD_CONFIG_EDITS += 's/\#\(CONFIG_TLS=openssl\)/\1/'
 else
 	HOSTAPD_CONFIG_DISABLE += CONFIG_EAP_PWD