diff --git a/package/unbound/unbound.mk b/package/unbound/unbound.mk
index 1e6e0d99d7..782ed2b049 100644
--- a/package/unbound/unbound.mk
+++ b/package/unbound/unbound.mk
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ UNBOUND_CONF_OPTS = \
 	--with-pidfile=/var/run/unbound.pid \
 	--with-rootkey-file=/etc/unbound/root.key \
 	--enable-tfo-server \
+	--with-libevent=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr \
 	--with-libexpat=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr \
 	--with-ssl=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr