diff --git a/package/bird/Config.in b/package/bird/Config.in
index 63170ee470..fe34f96a45 100644
--- a/package/bird/Config.in
+++ b/package/bird/Config.in
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_BABEL
 
 config BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_BFD
 	bool "bfd"
+	depends on BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS
 	help
 	  Enable BFD protocol.
 
+comment "BFD protocol needs a toolchain w/ threads"
+	depends on !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS
+
 config BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_BGP
 	bool "bgp"
 	default y