diff --git a/package/openzwave/openzwave.mk b/package/openzwave/openzwave.mk
index 9c28c0a13b..0f639635dd 100644
--- a/package/openzwave/openzwave.mk
+++ b/package/openzwave/openzwave.mk
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ OPENZWAVE_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 # the correct directory otherwise openzwave will install configuration files in
 # $(PREFIX)/etc/openzwave.
 # Disable doxygen documentation.
-# Set {DEBUG,RELEASE}_CFLAGS to an empty value to remove -Werror.
+# Set {DEBUG,RELEASE}_CFLAGS to remove -Werror.
 OPENZWAVE_MAKE_OPTS = \
 	CROSS_COMPILE="$(TARGET_CROSS)" \
 	PREFIX=/usr \
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ OPENZWAVE_MAKE_OPTS = \
 	pkgconfigdir=/usr/lib/pkgconfig \
 	sysconfdir=/etc/openzwave \
 	DOXYGEN= \
-	DEBUG_CFLAGS= \
-	RELEASE_CFLAGS= \
+	DEBUG_CFLAGS="-fPIC" \
+	RELEASE_CFLAGS="-fPIC" \
 	USE_BI_TXML=0
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_HAS_UDEV),y)