diff --git a/package/libuci/libuci.mk b/package/libuci/libuci.mk
index 12e07fc6e..a78048dc5 100644
--- a/package/libuci/libuci.mk
+++ b/package/libuci/libuci.mk
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ LIBUCI_DEPENDENCIES = libubox
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LUA_5_1),y)
 LIBUCI_DEPENDENCIES += lua
-LIBUCI_CONF_OPTS += -DLUAPATH=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/lib/lua/5.1 \
+LIBUCI_CONF_OPTS += -DBUILD_LUA=ON \
+	-DLUAPATH=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/lib/lua/5.1 \
 	-DLUA_CFLAGS=-I$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/include
 else
 LIBUCI_CONF_OPTS += -DBUILD_LUA=OFF