diff --git a/package/strongswan/strongswan.mk b/package/strongswan/strongswan.mk
index 5c597d572a..632a742e9c 100644
--- a/package/strongswan/strongswan.mk
+++ b/package/strongswan/strongswan.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ STRONGSWAN_SITE = http://download.strongswan.org
 STRONGSWAN_LICENSE = GPL-2.0+
 STRONGSWAN_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING LICENSE
 STRONGSWAN_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf
+STRONGSWAN_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 STRONGSWAN_CONF_OPTS += \
 	--without-lib-prefix \
 	--enable-led \
@@ -36,7 +37,8 @@ STRONGSWAN_CONF_OPTS += \
 	--enable-swanctl=$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_STRONGSWAN_VICI),yes,no) \
 	--with-ipseclibdir=/usr/lib \
 	--with-plugindir=/usr/lib/ipsec/plugins \
-	--with-imcvdir=/usr/lib/ipsec/imcvs
+	--with-imcvdir=/usr/lib/ipsec/imcvs \
+	--with-dev-headers=/usr/include
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_LIBATOMIC),y)
 STRONGSWAN_CONF_ENV += LIBS='-latomic'