diff --git a/package/libdnet/libdnet.mk b/package/libdnet/libdnet.mk
index d1cc0bf150..3d3fcbe605 100644
--- a/package/libdnet/libdnet.mk
+++ b/package/libdnet/libdnet.mk
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ LIBDNET_CONF_OPTS = \
 LIBDNET_CONFIG_SCRIPTS = dnet-config
 
 ifneq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBDNET_PYTHON),)
-LIBDNET_DEPENDENCIES = python
+LIBDNET_DEPENDENCIES += python
 LIBDNET_CONF_OPTS += --with-python
 LIBDNET_MAKE_OPTS = PYINCDIR=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/include/python$(PYTHON_VERSION_MAJOR) PYLIBDIR=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/lib
 LIBDNET_INSTALL_TARGET_OPTS = $(LIBDNET_MAKE_OPTS) DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s install-exec