diff --git a/src/configure b/src/configure
index fa65a76b74..35eb49225a 100755
--- a/src/configure
+++ b/src/configure
@@ -5189,6 +5189,7 @@ case $OS in
     ;;
   OpenBSD)
     LIBS="$LIBS -rdynamic -Wl,--export-dynamic"
+    enable_pthread=yes
     ;;
   NetBSD)
     LIBS="$LIBS -rdynamic"
diff --git a/src/racket/configure.ac b/src/racket/configure.ac
index 29104dc259..cc01979989 100644
--- a/src/racket/configure.ac
+++ b/src/racket/configure.ac
@@ -519,6 +519,7 @@ case $OS in
     ;;
   OpenBSD)
     LIBS="$LIBS -rdynamic -Wl,--export-dynamic"
+    enable_pthread=yes
     ;;
   NetBSD)
     LIBS="$LIBS -rdynamic"