diff --git a/package/openvpn/openvpn.mk b/package/openvpn/openvpn.mk
index 12c090ba3e..619a22c3b3 100644
--- a/package/openvpn/openvpn.mk
+++ b/package/openvpn/openvpn.mk
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ OPENVPN_CONF_OPTS = \
 	$(if $(BR2_STATIC_LIBS),--disable-plugins)
 OPENVPN_CONF_ENV = NETSTAT=/bin/netstat
 
-ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBNL),y)
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBNL)$(BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HEADERS_AT_LEAST_4_16),yy)
 OPENVPN_CONF_OPTS += --enable-dco
 OPENVPN_DEPENDENCIES += libnl
 else