diff --git a/package/nginx/nginx.mk b/package/nginx/nginx.mk
index 7348e485ef..f6bae7e0db 100644
--- a/package/nginx/nginx.mk
+++ b/package/nginx/nginx.mk
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ endif # BR2_PACKAGE_NGINX_HTTP
 
 # mail modules
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_NGINX_MAIL),y)
+NGINX_CONF_OPTS += --with-mail
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_NGINX_MAIL_SSL_MODULE),y)
 NGINX_DEPENDENCIES += openssl