diff --git a/package/systemd/systemd.mk b/package/systemd/systemd.mk
index 8ab0f6f370..4dea7d340d 100644
--- a/package/systemd/systemd.mk
+++ b/package/systemd/systemd.mk
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ endif
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_SYSTEMD_POLKIT),y)
 SYSTEMD_CONF_OPTS += -Dpolkit=true
+SYSTEMD_DEPENDENCIES += polkit
 else
 SYSTEMD_CONF_OPTS += -Dpolkit=false
 endif