diff --git a/package/hplip/hplip.mk b/package/hplip/hplip.mk
index b1e8cb55d2..d70e2e926f 100644
--- a/package/hplip/hplip.mk
+++ b/package/hplip/hplip.mk
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ HPLIP_CONF_OPTS = \
 	--enable-new-hpcups \
 	--enable-lite-build
 
+# build system does not support cups-config
+HPLIP_CONF_ENV = LIBS=`$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/bin/cups-config --libs`
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_DBUS),y)
 HPLIP_CONF_OPTS += --enable-dbus-build
 HPLIP_DEPENDENCIES += dbus