diff --git a/srcpkgs/libidn/template b/srcpkgs/libidn/template
index 3eb2442de90..e19e3d2a4f8 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/libidn/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/libidn/template
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ version=1.28
 revision=1
 build_style=gnu-configure
 configure_args="--disable-csharp --disable-java --disable-static --enable-threads=posix"
-hostmakedepends="perl pkg-config"
+hostmakedepends="perl pkg-config automake"
 short_desc="Internationalized string handling library"
 maintainer="Juan RP <xtraeme@gmail.com>"
 homepage="http://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/"