diff --git a/package/libpwquality/libpwquality.mk b/package/libpwquality/libpwquality.mk
index 66b15d805b..697af0b0b2 100644
--- a/package/libpwquality/libpwquality.mk
+++ b/package/libpwquality/libpwquality.mk
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ else
 LIBPWQUALITY_CONF_OPTS += --disable-pam
 endif
 
+# Static link with cracklib requires -lz if zlib is enabled
+ifeq ($(BR2_STATIC_LIBS)$(BR2_PACKAGE_ZLIB),yy)
+LIBPWQUALITY_CONF_ENV += LIBS="-lz"
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBPWQUALITY_TOOLS),)
 define LIBPWQUALITY_REMOVE_TOOLS
 	rm -f $(TARGET_DIR)/usr/bin/pwmake