diff --git a/package/libubox/libubox.mk b/package/libubox/libubox.mk
index 572cfe9d9..5d9c01d2b 100644
--- a/package/libubox/libubox.mk
+++ b/package/libubox/libubox.mk
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ LIBUBOX_DEPENDENCIES = $(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_JSON_C),json-c)
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_USE_MMU)$(BR2_PACKAGE_LUA_5_1),yy)
 LIBUBOX_DEPENDENCIES += lua
-LIBUBOX_CONF_OPTS += -DLUAPATH=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/lib/lua/5.1 \
+LIBUBOX_CONF_OPTS += -DBUILD_LUA=ON \
+	-DLUAPATH=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/lib/lua/5.1 \
 	-DLUA_CFLAGS=-I$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/include
 else
 LIBUBOX_CONF_OPTS += -DBUILD_LUA=OFF