diff --git a/package/libssh/Config.in b/package/libssh/Config.in
index 3dbfa7d561..a6cf1f8960 100644
--- a/package/libssh/Config.in
+++ b/package/libssh/Config.in
@@ -13,6 +13,15 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_LIBSSH
 
 	  http://www.libssh.org/
 
+if BR2_PACKAGE_LIBSSH
+
+config BR2_PACKAGE_LIBSSH_SERVER
+	bool "server"
+	help
+	  Enable libssh server support
+
+endif
+
 comment "libssh needs a toolchain w/ dynamic library, threads"
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU
 	depends on BR2_STATIC_LIBS || !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS
diff --git a/package/libssh/libssh.mk b/package/libssh/libssh.mk
index d5f22c29a0..b8464ed2bf 100644
--- a/package/libssh/libssh.mk
+++ b/package/libssh/libssh.mk
@@ -14,12 +14,17 @@ LIBSSH_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 LIBSSH_SUPPORTS_IN_SOURCE_BUILD = NO
 LIBSSH_CONF_OPTS = \
 	-DWITH_STACK_PROTECTOR=OFF \
-	-DWITH_SERVER=OFF \
 	-DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF
 
 # cmake older than 3.10 require this to avoid try_run() in FindThreads
 LIBSSH_CONF_OPTS += -DTHREADS_PTHREAD_ARG=OFF
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBSSH_SERVER),y)
+LIBSSH_CONF_OPTS += -DWITH_SERVER=ON
+else
+LIBSSH_CONF_OPTS += -DWITH_SERVER=OFF
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_ZLIB),y)
 LIBSSH_CONF_OPTS += -DWITH_ZLIB=ON
 LIBSSH_DEPENDENCIES += zlib