diff --git a/package/python/python.mk b/package/python/python.mk
index 7541e0bc43..8f4e298c4c 100644
--- a/package/python/python.mk
+++ b/package/python/python.mk
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ HOST_PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES = host-expat host-zlib
 
 PYTHON_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_GETTEXT),y)
+PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES += gettext
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_READLINE),y)
 PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES += readline
 else