diff --git a/package/arptables/Config.in b/package/arptables/Config.in
index 414fabb258..15414a0f3a 100644
--- a/package/arptables/Config.in
+++ b/package/arptables/Config.in
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_ARPTABLES
 	bool "arptables"
-	# needs fork()
-	depends on BR2_USE_MMU
+	depends on BR2_USE_MMU # needs fork()
+	depends on !BR2_PREFER_STATIC_LIB # needs dlopen()
 	help
 	  Tool to set up, maintain, and inspect the tables of ARP rules.
 
 	  http://ebtables.sourceforge.net
+
+comment "arptables needs a toolchain w/ dynamic library"
+	depends on BR2_USE_MMU
+	depends on BR2_PREFER_STATIC_LIB