diff --git a/package/dash/Config.in b/package/dash/Config.in
index b816ac7837..3573a40aa3 100644
--- a/package/dash/Config.in
+++ b/package/dash/Config.in
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_DASH
 	bool "dash"
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU # fork()
 	depends on BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX_SHOW_OTHERS
+	depends on BR2_USE_WCHAR
 	help
 	  DASH is a POSIX-compliant implementation of /bin/sh that
 	  aims to be as small as possible. It does this without
@@ -10,3 +11,8 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_DASH
 	  for most tasks.
 
 	  http://gondor.apana.org.au/~herbert/dash
+
+comment "dash needs a toolchain w/ wchar"
+	depends on BR2_USE_MMU
+	depends on BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX_SHOW_OTHERS
+	depends on !BR2_USE_WCHAR
diff --git a/system/Config.in b/system/Config.in
index 98bbd93092..8f2dde59e7 100644
--- a/system/Config.in
+++ b/system/Config.in
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ config BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_ROOT_PASSWD
 
 choice
 	bool "/bin/sh"
-	default BR2_SYSTEM_BIN_SH_DASH if !BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX
+	default BR2_SYSTEM_BIN_SH_BASH if !BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX
 	help
 	  Select which shell will provide /bin/sh.
 
@@ -418,6 +418,7 @@ config BR2_SYSTEM_BIN_SH_DASH
 	bool "dash"
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU # dash
 	depends on BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX_SHOW_OTHERS
+	depends on BR2_USE_WCHAR # dash
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_DASH
 
 config BR2_SYSTEM_BIN_SH_MKSH