diff --git a/package/dbus-python/Config.in b/package/dbus-python/Config.in
index f7b6d943cf..a38d27794a 100644
--- a/package/dbus-python/Config.in
+++ b/package/dbus-python/Config.in
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_DBUS_PYTHON
 	depends on BR2_PACKAGE_DBUS
 	depends on BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_DBUS_GLIB
+	# pyexpat: runtime dependency only
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_PYEXPAT
 	help
 	  Python bindings for D-Bus