diff --git a/package/boost/Config.in b/package/boost/Config.in
index 510ed336e4..035a450d12 100644
--- a/package/boost/Config.in
+++ b/package/boost/Config.in
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_LOCALE
 	# details.
 	depends on !(BR2_STATIC_LIBS && BR2_PACKAGE_ICU)
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_SYSTEM
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_THREAD if BR2_PACKAGE_ICU
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_LIBICONV if !BR2_ENABLE_LOCALE
 	help
 	  Provide localization and Unicode handling tools for C++.