diff --git a/package/cairo/Config.in b/package/cairo/Config.in
index 89bd315f37..9a177a744a 100644
--- a/package/cairo/Config.in
+++ b/package/cairo/Config.in
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_CAIRO
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_PIXMAN
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_FONTCONFIG
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_XLIB_LIBX11 if BR2_PACKAGE_XORG7
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_XLIB_LIBXEXT if BR2_PACKAGE_XORG7
 	help
 	  Cairo is a 2D graphics library with support for multiple
 	  output devices. Currently supported output targets include
diff --git a/package/cairo/cairo.mk b/package/cairo/cairo.mk
index ab0615c9e6..83c82c03c8 100644
--- a/package/cairo/cairo.mk
+++ b/package/cairo/cairo.mk
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ endif
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_XORG7),y)
 	CAIRO_CONF_OPT += --enable-xlib --enable-xcb --with-x
-	CAIRO_DEPENDENCIES += xlib_libX11
+	CAIRO_DEPENDENCIES += xlib_libX11 xlib_libXext
 else
 	CAIRO_CONF_OPT += --disable-xlib --disable-xcb --without-x
 endif