diff --git a/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk b/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
index 988c7792dc..8d7157f357 100644
--- a/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
+++ b/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ define DHCP_INSTALL_LIBS
 endef
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_DHCP_SERVER),y)
+DHCP_DEPENDENCIES += host-gawk
 define DHCP_INSTALL_CTL_LIBS
 	$(MAKE) -C $(@D)/dhcpctl install-exec DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR)
 endef