diff --git a/package/opencv3/opencv3.mk b/package/opencv3/opencv3.mk
index 2c5d6b041d..fab6716340 100644
--- a/package/opencv3/opencv3.mk
+++ b/package/opencv3/opencv3.mk
@@ -282,7 +282,9 @@ OPENCV3_CONF_OPTS += -DWITH_PNG=OFF
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_OPENCV3_WITH_PROTOBUF),y)
-OPENCV3_CONF_OPTS += -DWITH_PROTOBUF=ON
+OPENCV3_CONF_OPTS += \
+	-DPROTOBUF_UPDATE_FILES=ON \
+	-DWITH_PROTOBUF=ON
 OPENCV3_DEPENDENCIES += protobuf
 else
 OPENCV3_CONF_OPTS += -DWITH_PROTOBUF=OFF