diff --git a/package/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs.mk b/package/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs.mk
index a60c69b395..70a1e4eab5 100644
--- a/package/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs.mk
+++ b/package/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs.mk
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ HOST_E2FSPROGS_CONF_ENV += \
 	ac_cv_header_magic_h=no \
 	ac_cv_lib_magic_magic_file=no
 
-ifeq ($(BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT_IF_LOCALE),y)
+ifeq ($(BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT_IF_LOCALE)$(BR2_STATIC_LIBS),yy)
 # util-linux libuuid pulls in libintl if needed, so ensure we also
 # link against it, otherwise static linking fails
 E2FSPROGS_CONF_ENV += LIBS=-lintl