diff --git a/package/libs/readline/Makefile b/package/libs/readline/Makefile
index ddf05986a56..e0204104c56 100644
--- a/package/libs/readline/Makefile
+++ b/package/libs/readline/Makefile
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ PKG_INSTALL:=1
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/package.mk
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/host-build.mk
 
+HOST_BUILD_DEPENDS:=ncurses/host
+
 define Package/libreadline
   SECTION:=libs
   CATEGORY:=Libraries