diff --git a/panda/src/text/Sources.pp b/panda/src/text/Sources.pp
index b5bb8afcb0..59689bb3a9 100644
--- a/panda/src/text/Sources.pp
+++ b/panda/src/text/Sources.pp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
                    dtoolutil:c dtoolbase:c dtool:m
 
 #begin lib_target
-  #define USE_PACKAGES freetype
+  #define USE_PACKAGES freetype zlib
 
   #define TARGET text
   #define LOCAL_LIBS \