diff --git a/network/iptables/iptables.conf b/network/iptables/iptables.conf
index 17921c473..e4801ed26 100644
--- a/network/iptables/iptables.conf
+++ b/network/iptables/iptables.conf
@@ -24,4 +24,6 @@ fi
 
 # kernel >= 3.9 have BPF filter support
 # enable to build/install the netfilter bpf compiler 'nfbpf_compile'
-var_append extraconfopt ' ' "--enable-bpf-compiler"
+if pkginstalled -f libpcap; then
+	var_append extraconfopt ' ' "--enable-bpf-compiler"
+fi