diff --git a/package/socketcand/socketcand.mk b/package/socketcand/socketcand.mk
index dbf859d3f9..1755d3ae56 100644
--- a/package/socketcand/socketcand.mk
+++ b/package/socketcand/socketcand.mk
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ SOCKETCAND_LICENSE_FILES = socketcand.c
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBCONFIG),y)
 SOCKETCAND_DEPENDENCIES += libconfig
 else
-SOCKETCAND_CONF_OPTS = --without-config
+SOCKETCAND_CONF_OPTS += --without-config
 endif
 
 $(eval $(autotools-package))