diff --git a/package/opencv/opencv.mk b/package/opencv/opencv.mk
index d415e5192e..ec9471518f 100644
--- a/package/opencv/opencv.mk
+++ b/package/opencv/opencv.mk
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ OPENCV_CONF_OPT = \
 	-DWITH_UNICAP=OFF \
 	-DWITH_XINE=OFF
 
+OPENCV_DEPENDENCIES += zlib
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_OPENCV_WITH_PYTHON),y)
 OPENCV_CONF_OPT += -DBUILD_NEW_PYTHON_SUPPORT=ON
 OPENCV_DEPENDENCIES += python