diff --git a/package/dropbear/Config.in b/package/dropbear/Config.in
index 4361430a72..20469f8b24 100644
--- a/package/dropbear/Config.in
+++ b/package/dropbear/Config.in
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_DROPBEAR
 	bool "dropbear"
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_ZLIB
 	help
 	  A small SSH 2 server designed for small memory environments.