diff --git a/package/paho-mqtt-c/paho-mqtt-c.mk b/package/paho-mqtt-c/paho-mqtt-c.mk
index 6a6b5f3d64..c7ecf412cd 100644
--- a/package/paho-mqtt-c/paho-mqtt-c.mk
+++ b/package/paho-mqtt-c/paho-mqtt-c.mk
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ PAHO_MQTT_C_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
 PAHO_MQTT_C_CONF_OPTS = \
 	-DPAHO_ENABLE_TESTING=FALSE \
-	-DPAHO_ENABLE_CPACK=FALSE
+	-DPAHO_ENABLE_CPACK=FALSE \
+	-DPAHO_HIGH_PERFORMANCE=TRUE
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_OPENSSL),y)
 PAHO_MQTT_C_DEPENDENCIES += openssl