diff --git a/package/espeak/espeak.mk b/package/espeak/espeak.mk
index aa0b5b0716..347fcb607d 100644
--- a/package/espeak/espeak.mk
+++ b/package/espeak/espeak.mk
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ ESPEAK_LICENSE_FILES = License.txt
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_ESPEAK_AUDIO_BACKEND_ALSA),y)
 ESPEAK_AUDIO_BACKEND = portaudio
-ESPEAK_DEPENDENCIES = portaudio
+ESPEAK_DEPENDENCIES += portaudio
 endif
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_ESPEAK_AUDIO_BACKEND_PULSEAUDIO),y)
 ESPEAK_AUDIO_BACKEND = pulseaudio
-ESPEAK_DEPENDENCIES = pulseaudio
+ESPEAK_DEPENDENCIES += pulseaudio
 endif
 
 define ESPEAK_EXTRACT_CMDS