diff --git a/package/ruby/ruby.mk b/package/ruby/ruby.mk
index 8c094b5ccf..bf341899ca 100644
--- a/package/ruby/ruby.mk
+++ b/package/ruby/ruby.mk
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ RUBY_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf host-ruby
 HOST_RUBY_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf
 RUBY_MAKE_ENV = $(TARGET_MAKE_ENV)
 RUBY_MAKE = $(MAKE1)
-RUBY_CONF_OPT = --disable-install-doc --disable-rpath
+RUBY_CONF_OPT = --disable-install-doc --disable-rpath --disable-rubygems
 HOST_RUBY_CONF_OPT = --disable-install-doc \
 	--with-out-ext=curses,openssl,readline \
 	--without-gmp