diff --git a/lang/erlang/Makefile b/lang/erlang/Makefile
index 5c7c59291..955b05215 100644
--- a/lang/erlang/Makefile
+++ b/lang/erlang/Makefile
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ endef
 
 define Package/erlang
 $(call Package/erlang/Default)
-  DEPENDS+= +libncurses +librt
+  DEPENDS+= +libncurses +librt +zlib
   PROVIDES:= erlang-erts=5.7 erlang-kernel=2.13 erlang-sasl=2.1.6 erlang-stdlib=1.16
 endef