diff --git a/package/util-linux/Config.in b/package/util-linux/Config.in
index e957f848bb..cfb245123d 100644
--- a/package/util-linux/Config.in
+++ b/package/util-linux/Config.in
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_UTIL_LINUX_MORE
 	bool "more"
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU # fork()
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES_WCHAR if BR2_USE_WCHAR
 	help
 	  File perusal filter for crt viewing
 
@@ -252,6 +253,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_UTIL_LINUX_PG
 	bool "pg"
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU # fork()
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES_WCHAR if BR2_USE_WCHAR
 	help
 	  Browse pagewise through text files
 
@@ -298,6 +300,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_UTIL_LINUX_SETPRIV
 config BR2_PACKAGE_UTIL_LINUX_SETTERM
 	bool "setterm"
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES_WCHAR if BR2_USE_WCHAR
 	help
 	  Set terminal attributes
 
@@ -310,12 +313,14 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_UTIL_LINUX_SWITCH_ROOT
 config BR2_PACKAGE_UTIL_LINUX_TUNELP
 	bool "tunelp"
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES_WCHAR if BR2_USE_WCHAR
 	help
 	  Set various parameters for the lp device
 
 config BR2_PACKAGE_UTIL_LINUX_UL
 	bool "ul"
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES
+	select BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES_WCHAR if BR2_USE_WCHAR
 	help
 	  Do underlining
 
diff --git a/package/util-linux/util-linux.mk b/package/util-linux/util-linux.mk
index 51ece90b63..414465cff6 100644
--- a/package/util-linux/util-linux.mk
+++ b/package/util-linux/util-linux.mk
@@ -45,21 +45,21 @@ ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX),y)
 UTIL_LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += busybox
 endif
 
-ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES),y)
-UTIL_LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += ncurses
-ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES_WCHAR),y)
-UTIL_LINUX_CONF_OPTS += --with-ncursesw
-UTIL_LINUX_CONF_ENV += NCURSESW5_CONFIG=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/bin/$(NCURSES_CONFIG_SCRIPTS)
-else
-UTIL_LINUX_CONF_OPTS += --without-ncursesw --with-ncurses --disable-widechar
-UTIL_LINUX_CONF_ENV += NCURSES5_CONFIG=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/bin/$(NCURSES_CONFIG_SCRIPTS)
-endif
-else
 ifeq ($(BR2_USE_WCHAR),y)
 UTIL_LINUX_CONF_OPTS += --enable-widechar
 else
 UTIL_LINUX_CONF_OPTS += --disable-widechar
 endif
+
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES_WCHAR),y)
+UTIL_LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += ncurses
+UTIL_LINUX_CONF_OPTS += --with-ncursesw
+UTIL_LINUX_CONF_ENV += NCURSESW5_CONFIG=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/bin/$(NCURSES_CONFIG_SCRIPTS)
+else ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_NCURSES):$(BR2_USE_WCHAR),y:)
+UTIL_LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += ncurses
+UTIL_LINUX_CONF_OPTS += --without-ncursesw --with-ncurses
+UTIL_LINUX_CONF_ENV += NCURSES5_CONFIG=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/bin/$(NCURSES_CONFIG_SCRIPTS)
+else
 UTIL_LINUX_CONF_OPTS += --without-ncursesw --without-ncurses
 endif