diff --git a/package/boost/Config.in b/package/boost/Config.in
index 5ed2470b94..68b1128818 100644
--- a/package/boost/Config.in
+++ b/package/boost/Config.in
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_TEST
 
 config BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_THREAD
 	bool "boost-thread"
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_SYSTEM
 	help
 	  Portable C++ multi-threading. C++11, C++14.