diff --git a/package/python-esptool/Config.in b/package/python-esptool/Config.in
index 7d3579abdc..570f9aa42f 100644
--- a/package/python-esptool/Config.in
+++ b/package/python-esptool/Config.in
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_ESPTOOL
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_ECDSA # runtime
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_PYAES # runtime
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_SERIAL # runtime
-	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_ZLIB # runtime
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_ZLIB if BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON3_ZLIB if BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON3
 	help
 	  A serial utility to communicate & flash code to Espressif
 	  ESP8266 & ESP32 chips.