diff --git a/package/gdbm/Config.in b/package/gdbm/Config.in
index debe5660d7..7c8fcc4e5a 100644
--- a/package/gdbm/Config.in
+++ b/package/gdbm/Config.in
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_GDBM
 	bool "gdbm"
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU # fork()
+	depends on BR2_USE_WCHAR
 	help
 	  GNU dbm is a set of database routines that use extensible
 	  hashing. It works similar to the standard UNIX dbm routines.
 
 	  https://www.gnu.org/software/gdbm/gdbm.html
+
+comment "gdbm needs a toolchain w/ wchar"
+	depends on BR2_USE_MMU
+	depends on !BR2_USE_WCHAR