diff --git a/package/libiio/Config.in b/package/libiio/Config.in
index 99da4c1c10..28a43f9fa8 100644
--- a/package/libiio/Config.in
+++ b/package/libiio/Config.in
@@ -17,11 +17,15 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_LIBIIO_LOCAL_BACKEND
 
 config BR2_PACKAGE_LIBIIO_NETWORK_BACKEND
 	bool "Network backend"
+	depends on BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_LIBXML2
 	default y
 	help
 	  Enable the network backend of the library.
 
+comment "IIO Network backend needs a toolchain w/ threads"
+	depends on !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS
+
 config BR2_PACKAGE_LIBIIO_IIOD
 	bool "IIO Daemon"
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_LIBIIO_LOCAL_BACKEND