diff --git a/package/lua/lua.mk b/package/lua/lua.mk
index b385b78b30..844e165df0 100644
--- a/package/lua/lua.mk
+++ b/package/lua/lua.mk
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ LUA_MYLIBS += -ldl
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LUA_READLINE),y)
-LUA_DEPENDENCIES = readline ncurses
+LUA_DEPENDENCIES += readline ncurses
 LUA_MYLIBS += -lreadline -lhistory -lncurses
 LUA_CFLAGS += -DLUA_USE_READLINE
 else
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LUA_LINENOISE),y)
-LUA_DEPENDENCIES = linenoise
+LUA_DEPENDENCIES += linenoise
 LUA_MYLIBS += -llinenoise
 LUA_CFLAGS += -DLUA_USE_LINENOISE
 endif