diff --git a/package/axel/Config.in b/package/axel/Config.in
index 4507855ff8..740095a505 100644
--- a/package/axel/Config.in
+++ b/package/axel/Config.in
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_AXEL
 	bool "axel"
 	depends on BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS
+	depends on BR2_TOOLCHAIN_GCC_AT_LEAST_4_9 # C11/stdatomic.h
 	help
 	  HTTP/FTP download accelerator.
 
 	  https://github.com/axel-download-accelerator/axel/
 
-comment "axel needs a toolchain w/ threads"
-	depends on !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS
+comment "axel needs a toolchain w/ threads, gcc >= 4.9"
+	depends on !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS || \
+		!BR2_TOOLCHAIN_GCC_AT_LEAST_4_9