diff --git a/package/libvips/libvips.mk b/package/libvips/libvips.mk
index 494392de7b..990d3f386f 100644
--- a/package/libvips/libvips.mk
+++ b/package/libvips/libvips.mk
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ LIBVIPS_CONF_OPTS = \
 	--without-gsf \
 	--without-OpenEXR \
 	--without-openslide \
-	--without-matio \
 	--without-cfitsio \
 	--without-libwebp \
 	--without-pangoft2 \
@@ -91,6 +90,13 @@ else
 LIBVIPS_CONF_OPTS += --without-rsvg
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_MATIO),y)
+LIBVIPS_CONF_OPTS += --with-matio
+LIBVIPS_DEPENDENCIES += matio
+else
+LIBVIPS_CONF_OPTS += --without-matio
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_ORC),y)
 LIBVIPS_CONF_OPTS += --with-orc
 LIBVIPS_DEPENDENCIES += orc