diff --git a/package/boost/Config.in b/package/boost/Config.in
index 97695e17b7..57e98c72e4 100644
--- a/package/boost/Config.in
+++ b/package/boost/Config.in
@@ -313,6 +313,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_TEST
 
 config BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_THREAD
 	bool "boost-thread"
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_ATOMIC if !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_SUPPORTS_ALWAYS_LOCKFREE_ATOMIC_INTS
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_CHRONO
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_BOOST_SYSTEM
 	help