diff --git a/src/posix/platform/hdlc_interface.cpp b/src/posix/platform/hdlc_interface.cpp
index 96ae4cfe6..d4d7221f2 100644
--- a/src/posix/platform/hdlc_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/posix/platform/hdlc_interface.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_POSIX_APP_ENABLE_PTY_DEVICE
-#ifdef __APPLE__
+#if defined(__APPLE__) || defined(__NetBSD__)
 #include <util.h>
 #else
 #include <pty.h>