diff --git a/package/python-gunicorn/Config.in b/package/python-gunicorn/Config.in
index 518157bf93..b3d11cf199 100644
--- a/package/python-gunicorn/Config.in
+++ b/package/python-gunicorn/Config.in
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_GUNICORN
 	bool "python-gunicorn"
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_SETUPTOOLS # runtime
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_SSL if BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON # runtime
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON3_SSL if BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON3 # runtime
 	help