diff --git a/package/freetype/freetype.mk b/package/freetype/freetype.mk
index 428531ed08..b0aba78c51 100644
--- a/package/freetype/freetype.mk
+++ b/package/freetype/freetype.mk
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ FREETYPE_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf
 FREETYPE_CONFIG_SCRIPTS = freetype-config
 
 HOST_FREETYPE_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf
-HOST_FREETYPE_CONF_OPTS = --without-zlib --without-bzip2 --without-png
+HOST_FREETYPE_CONF_OPTS = \
+	--without-bzip2 \
+	--without-harfbuzz \
+	--without-png \
+	--without-zlib
 
 # since 2.9.1 needed for freetype-config install
 FREETYPE_CONF_OPTS += --enable-freetype-config
@@ -35,6 +39,13 @@ else
 FREETYPE_CONF_OPTS += --without-bzip2
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_HARFBUZZ),y)
+FREETYPE_DEPENDENCIES += harfbuzz
+FREETYPE_CONF_OPTS += --with-harbuzz
+else
+FREETYPE_CONF_OPTS += --without-harfbuzz
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBPNG),y)
 FREETYPE_DEPENDENCIES += libpng
 FREETYPE_CONF_OPTS += --with-png