diff --git a/package/freetype/freetype.mk b/package/freetype/freetype.mk
index f1dbfb883..1a1aef43d 100644
--- a/package/freetype/freetype.mk
+++ b/package/freetype/freetype.mk
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@ FREETYPE_LIBTOOL_PATCH = NO
 FREETYPE_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 FREETYPE_INSTALL_TARGET = NO
 FREETYPE_MAKE_OPT = CCexe="$(HOSTCC)"
-FREETYPE_INSTALL_STAGING_OPT = DESTDIR=$(STAGING_DIR) install
-FREETYPE_DEPENDENCIES = uclibc pkgconfig
+FREETYPE_DEPENDENCIES = uclibc pkgconfig zlib
 
 $(eval $(call AUTOTARGETS,package,freetype))