diff --git a/package/janet/Config.in b/package/janet/Config.in
index 0e25ce34e3..7b78c14bf4 100644
--- a/package/janet/Config.in
+++ b/package/janet/Config.in
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_JANET
 	bool "janet"
+	depends on BR2_TOOLCHAIN_GCC_AT_LEAST_4_9 # C11/stdatomic.h
 	help
 	  Janet is a functional and imperative programming language.
 	  The entire language (core library, interpreter, compiler,
@@ -8,3 +9,6 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_JANET
 	  and two headers.
 
 	  https://janet-lang.org/
+
+comment "janet needs a toolchain w/ gcc >= 4.9"
+	depends on !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_GCC_AT_LEAST_4_9