diff --git a/package/imlib2/Config.in b/package/imlib2/Config.in
index c47178f174..46edf375f3 100644
--- a/package/imlib2/Config.in
+++ b/package/imlib2/Config.in
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_IMLIB2
 	bool "imlib2"
 	depends on !BR2_STATIC_LIBS # dlopen()
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_FREETYPE
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_ZLIB
 	help
 	  Imlib 2 is the successor to Imlib. This library provides
 	  routines to load, save and render images in various formats.
diff --git a/package/imlib2/imlib2.mk b/package/imlib2/imlib2.mk
index 5ad89289a4..c650981501 100644
--- a/package/imlib2/imlib2.mk
+++ b/package/imlib2/imlib2.mk
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ IMLIB2_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING COPYING-PLAIN
 IMLIB2_CPE_ID_VENDOR = enlightenment
 
 IMLIB2_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
-IMLIB2_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf freetype
+IMLIB2_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf freetype zlib
 IMLIB2_CONF_OPTS = --with-freetype-config=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/bin/freetype-config
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_IMLIB2_X),y)