diff --git a/package/boost/Config.in b/package/boost/Config.in
index aef0303094..f989a7448b 100644
--- a/package/boost/Config.in
+++ b/package/boost/Config.in
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_LOCALE
 	# https://svn.boost.org/trac/boost/ticket/9685 for more
 	# details.
 	depends on !(BR2_STATIC_LIBS && BR2_PACKAGE_ICU)
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_SYSTEM
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_LIBICONV if !BR2_ENABLE_LOCALE
 	help
 	  Provide localization and Unicode handling tools for C++.