diff --git a/package/ntp/ntp.mk b/package/ntp/ntp.mk
index 554094db1b..36fc537920 100644
--- a/package/ntp/ntp.mk
+++ b/package/ntp/ntp.mk
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 NTP_VERSION_MAJOR = 4.2
 NTP_VERSION = $(NTP_VERSION_MAJOR).8p2
 NTP_SITE = http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~ntp/ntp_spool/ntp4/ntp-$(NTP_VERSION_MAJOR)
-NTP_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf libevent
+NTP_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf libevent $(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX),busybox)
 NTP_LICENSE = ntp license
 NTP_LICENSE_FILES = COPYRIGHT
 NTP_CONF_ENV = ac_cv_lib_md5_MD5Init=no