diff --git a/package/hidapi/Config.in b/package/hidapi/Config.in
index c48a096d99..5119aac93d 100644
--- a/package/hidapi/Config.in
+++ b/package/hidapi/Config.in
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_HIDAPI
 	depends on BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS # libusb
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_LIBUSB
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_LIBGUDEV
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_LIBICONV if !BR2_ENABLE_LOCALE
 	help
 	  HIDAPI is a multi-platform library which allows an application
 	  to interface with USB and Bluetooth HID-Class devices on
diff --git a/package/hidapi/hidapi.mk b/package/hidapi/hidapi.mk
index b16e4ae549..270836c6c1 100644
--- a/package/hidapi/hidapi.mk
+++ b/package/hidapi/hidapi.mk
@@ -16,4 +16,9 @@ HIDAPI_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE.txt LICENSE-gpl3.txt LICENSE-bsd.txt LICENSE-orig
 
 HIDAPI_DEPENDENCIES = libusb libgudev
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBICONV),y)
+HIDAPI_DEPENDENCIES += libiconv
+HIDAPI_CONF_ENV += LIBS="-liconv"
+endif
+
 $(eval $(autotools-package))