diff --git a/package/libwebsockets/libwebsockets.mk b/package/libwebsockets/libwebsockets.mk
index 28fd183393..81e398bedd 100644
--- a/package/libwebsockets/libwebsockets.mk
+++ b/package/libwebsockets/libwebsockets.mk
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ else
 LIBWEBSOCKETS_CONF_OPTS += -DLWS_WITH_LIBEV=OFF
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBEVENT),y)
+LIBWEBSOCKETS_DEPENDENCIES += libevent
+LIBWEBSOCKETS_CONF_OPTS += -DLWS_WITH_LIBEVENT=ON
+else
+LIBWEBSOCKETS_CONF_OPTS += -DLWS_WITH_LIBEVENT=OFF
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBUV),y)
 LIBWEBSOCKETS_DEPENDENCIES += libuv
 LIBWEBSOCKETS_CONF_OPTS += -DLWS_WITH_LIBUV=ON