diff --git a/package/util-linux/util-linux-libs/util-linux-libs.mk b/package/util-linux/util-linux-libs/util-linux-libs.mk
index 0337e7e13a..9340d5ae4f 100644
--- a/package/util-linux/util-linux-libs/util-linux-libs.mk
+++ b/package/util-linux/util-linux-libs/util-linux-libs.mk
@@ -26,9 +26,13 @@ UTIL_LINUX_LIBS_DEPENDENCIES = \
 	host-pkgconf \
 	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBXCRYPT),libxcrypt) \
 	$(TARGET_NLS_DEPENDENCIES)
+# --disable-year2038: tells the configure script to not abort if the
+# system is not Y2038 compliant. util-linux-libs will support year2038
+# if the system is compliant even with this option passed
 UTIL_LINUX_LIBS_CONF_OPTS += \
 	--disable-rpath \
-	--disable-makeinstall-chown
+	--disable-makeinstall-chown \
+	--disable-year2038
 
 UTIL_LINUX_LIBS_LINK_LIBS = $(TARGET_NLS_LIBS)