diff --git a/configs/freescale_imx8qxpmek_defconfig b/configs/freescale_imx8qxpmek_defconfig
index 1965e0c804..03ecd22ee6 100644
--- a/configs/freescale_imx8qxpmek_defconfig
+++ b/configs/freescale_imx8qxpmek_defconfig
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_REPO_VERSION="rel_imx_4.19.35_1.1.0"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_ARCH_DEFAULT_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_DTS_SUPPORT=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_INTREE_DTS_NAME="freescale/fsl-imx8qxp-mek"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_NEEDS_HOST_OPENSSL=y
 BR2_PACKAGE_FREESCALE_IMX=y
 BR2_PACKAGE_FREESCALE_IMX_PLATFORM_IMX8X=y
 BR2_PACKAGE_FIRMWARE_IMX=y