diff --git a/package/boost/Config.in b/package/boost/Config.in
index 57e98c72e4..0fd049d53c 100644
--- a/package/boost/Config.in
+++ b/package/boost/Config.in
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_CONTEXT
 	bool "boost-context"
 	depends on BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_CONTEXT_ARCH_SUPPORTS
 	depends on !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_GCC_BUG_64735
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_THREAD if !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_GCC_AT_LEAST_4_8
 	help
 	  C++11 context switching library.