diff --git a/package/shadowsocks-libev/Config.in b/package/shadowsocks-libev/Config.in
index d02e5a93ef..56914e8e9d 100644
--- a/package/shadowsocks-libev/Config.in
+++ b/package/shadowsocks-libev/Config.in
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_SHADOWSOCKS_LIBEV
 	bool "shadowsocks-libev"
+	depends on BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU # fork()
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_C_ARES
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_LIBEV
@@ -11,3 +12,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_SHADOWSOCKS_LIBEV
 	  embedded devices and low-end boxes.
 
 	  https://github.com/shadowsocks/shadowsocks-libev
+
+comment "shadowsocks-libev needs a toolchain w/ threads"
+	depends on BR2_USE_MMU
+	depends on !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS