diff --git a/package/python/python.mk b/package/python/python.mk
index 0469820a68..3b0a4ddfd5 100644
--- a/package/python/python.mk
+++ b/package/python/python.mk
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ HOST_PYTHON_CONF_OPT += 	\
 	--disable-curses	\
 	--disable-codecs-cjk	\
 	--disable-nis		\
-	--disable-unicodedata	\
+	--enable-unicodedata	\
 	--disable-dbm		\
 	--disable-gdbm		\
 	--disable-bsddb		\
diff --git a/package/python3/python3.mk b/package/python3/python3.mk
index 1bf85004d0..13f53f4f03 100644
--- a/package/python3/python3.mk
+++ b/package/python3/python3.mk
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ HOST_PYTHON3_CONF_OPT += 	\
 	--disable-curses	\
 	--disable-codecs-cjk	\
 	--disable-nis		\
-	--disable-unicodedata	\
+	--enable-unicodedata	\
 	--disable-test-modules	\
 	--disable-idle3		\
 	--disable-pyo-build