diff --git a/package/odb/odb.mk b/package/odb/odb.mk
index 85c7ccb8bb..a234069952 100644
--- a/package/odb/odb.mk
+++ b/package/odb/odb.mk
@@ -10,7 +10,13 @@ ODB_SOURCE = odb-$(ODB_VERSION).tar.bz2
 ODB_SITE = https://www.codesynthesis.com/download/odb/$(ODB_VERSION_MAJOR)
 ODB_LICENSE = GPL-3.0
 ODB_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
-HOST_ODB_DEPENDENCIES = host-libcutl
+# host-libodb is not needed to build host-odb, but it is needed to use
+# the ODB compiler, as it install header files that are needed at
+# runtime by the odb compiler.
+HOST_ODB_DEPENDENCIES = host-libcutl host-libodb
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBODB_BOOST),y)
+HOST_ODB_DEPENDENCIES += host-libodb-boost
+endif
 HOST_ODB_CONF_ENV = CXXFLAGS="$(HOST_CXXFLAGS) -std=c++11"
 
 # Prevent odb from trying to install the gcc plugin into the hosts