diff --git a/package/util-linux/util-linux.mk b/package/util-linux/util-linux.mk
index b4175024c4..807a9fb828 100644
--- a/package/util-linux/util-linux.mk
+++ b/package/util-linux/util-linux.mk
@@ -136,6 +136,11 @@ UTIL_LINUX_CONF_ENV += CFLAGS="$(TARGET_CFLAGS) -Dstatic_assert=_Static_assert"
 UTIL_LINUX_CONF_ENV += LIBS="$(UTIL_LINUX_LINK_LIBS)"
 UTIL_LINUX_MAKE_OPTS += LIBS="$(UTIL_LINUX_LINK_LIBS)"
 
+# pthread support uses pthread_atfork, which is not available on nommu
+ifeq ($(BR2_USE_MMU),)
+UTIL_LINUX_CONF_ENV += ac_cv_lib_pthread_pthread_atfork=no
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBSELINUX),y)
 UTIL_LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += libselinux
 UTIL_LINUX_CONF_OPTS += --with-selinux