diff --git a/package/gdbm/gdbm.mk b/package/gdbm/gdbm.mk
index 12e1dac6c1..f7a437007c 100644
--- a/package/gdbm/gdbm.mk
+++ b/package/gdbm/gdbm.mk
@@ -10,4 +10,8 @@ GDBM_LICENSE = GPLv3+
 GDBM_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING
 GDBM_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_GETTEXT),y)
+GDBM_DEPENDENCIES += gettext
+endif
+
 $(eval $(autotools-package))