diff --git a/package/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs.mk b/package/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs.mk
index 3961a94f9..8ee316a03 100644
--- a/package/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs.mk
+++ b/package/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs.mk
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ ifeq ($(BR2_nios2),y)
 E2FSPROGS_CONF_ENV += ac_cv_func_fallocate=no
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT_IF_LOCALE),y)
+# util-linux libuuid pulls in libintl if needed, so ensure we also
+# link against it, otherwise static linking fails
+E2FSPROGS_CONF_ENV += LIBS=-lintl
+endif
+
 E2FSPROGS_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf util-linux
 
 E2FSPROGS_MAKE_OPTS = \