diff --git a/package/flex/flex.mk b/package/flex/flex.mk
index ad35548229..41c9505f3c 100644
--- a/package/flex/flex.mk
+++ b/package/flex/flex.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ FLEX_PATCH:=flex_$(FLEX_VERSION)-$(FLEX_PATCH_VERSION).diff.gz
 FLEX_SITE:=$(BR2_DEBIAN_MIRROR)/debian/pool/main/f/flex
 FLEX_DIR:=$(BUILD_DIR)/flex-$(FLEX_VERSION)
 FLEX_INSTALL_STAGING=YES
+FLEX_DEPENDENCIES = \
+	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_GETTEXT),gettext) \
+	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBINTL),libintl)
 
 # lex -> flex
 define FLEX_INSTALL_LEX