diff --git a/package/micropython-lib/Config.in b/package/micropython-lib/Config.in
index a7e017be76..be8c875626 100644
--- a/package/micropython-lib/Config.in
+++ b/package/micropython-lib/Config.in
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_MICROPYTHON_LIB
 	bool "micropython-lib"
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_PCRE
 	depends on BR2_PACKAGE_MICROPYTHON
 	help
 	  Core Python libraries ported to MicroPython.
diff --git a/package/micropython-lib/micropython-lib.mk b/package/micropython-lib/micropython-lib.mk
index a0b533a53f..478d6d690d 100644
--- a/package/micropython-lib/micropython-lib.mk
+++ b/package/micropython-lib/micropython-lib.mk
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ MICROPYTHON_LIB_VERSION = v1.8.2
 MICROPYTHON_LIB_SITE = $(call github,micropython,micropython-lib,$(MICROPYTHON_LIB_VERSION))
 MICROPYTHON_LIB_LICENSE = Python software foundation license v2 (some modules), MIT (everything else)
 MICROPYTHON_LIB_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
+MICROPYTHON_LIB_DEPENDENCIES = pcre
 
 define MICROPYTHON_LIB_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS
 	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) -C $(@D) \