diff --git a/net/netfilter/Kconfig b/net/netfilter/Kconfig
index 4371c9819d97..01f9f64c4cec 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/Kconfig
+++ b/net/netfilter/Kconfig
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ config NETFILTER_SYNPROXY
 endif # NF_CONNTRACK
 
 config NF_TABLES
-	depends on NETFILTER_NETLINK
+	select NETFILTER_NETLINK
 	tristate "Netfilter nf_tables support"
 
 config NFT_EXTHDR