diff --git a/meta/lib/oe/package.py b/meta/lib/oe/package.py
index d1303f32bf..e6b46a0dc5 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oe/package.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oe/package.py
@@ -1853,7 +1853,7 @@ def process_pkgconfig(pkgfiles, d):
                         if m:
                             hdr = m.group(1)
                             exp = pd.expand(m.group(2))
-                            if hdr == 'Requires':
+                            if hdr == 'Requires' or hdr == 'Requires.private':
                                 pkgconfig_needed[pkg] += exp.replace(',', ' ').split()
                                 continue
                         m = var_re.match(l)