diff --git a/package/gdb/gdb.mk b/package/gdb/gdb.mk
index d8299900ec..618111dda8 100644
--- a/package/gdb/gdb.mk
+++ b/package/gdb/gdb.mk
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ HOST_GDB_CONF_OPTS = \
 	--enable-threads \
 	--disable-werror \
 	--without-included-gettext \
+	--with-curses \
 	$(GDB_DISABLE_BINUTILS_CONF_OPTS)
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_GDB_TUI),y)