diff --git a/package/whois/Config.in b/package/whois/Config.in
index 40b6590140..95e3dc6101 100644
--- a/package/whois/Config.in
+++ b/package/whois/Config.in
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 config BR2_PACKAGE_WHOIS
 	bool "whois"
+	depends on BR2_USE_WCHAR # gettext
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_GETTEXT if BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT
 	help
 	  Improved whois client.
 
 	  http://www.linux.it/~md/software/
+
+comment "whois needs a toolchain w/ wchar"
+	depends on !BR2_USE_WCHAR