diff --git a/init/Kconfig b/init/Kconfig
index cac3f096050d5b..8c06cfe949553c 100644
--- a/init/Kconfig
+++ b/init/Kconfig
@@ -1278,6 +1278,7 @@ config SYSFS_DEPRECATED_V2
 
 config RELAY
 	bool "Kernel->user space relay support (formerly relayfs)"
+	select IRQ_WORK
 	help
 	  This option enables support for relay interface support in
 	  certain file systems (such as debugfs).