diff --git a/package/berkeleydb/Config.in b/package/berkeleydb/Config.in
index f32d13ab17..f8fbb5cc09 100644
--- a/package/berkeleydb/Config.in
+++ b/package/berkeleydb/Config.in
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_BERKELEYDB_COMPAT185
 	help
 	  Build and install DB 1.85 compatibility API.
 
+config BR2_PACKAGE_BERKELEYDB_DBM
+	bool "historic dbm interface"
+	help
+	  Enable the historic dbm interface.
+
 config BR2_PACKAGE_BERKELEYDB_TOOLS
 	bool "install tools"
 	help
diff --git a/package/berkeleydb/berkeleydb.mk b/package/berkeleydb/berkeleydb.mk
index 36b1894f34..1c121370db 100644
--- a/package/berkeleydb/berkeleydb.mk
+++ b/package/berkeleydb/berkeleydb.mk
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ define BERKELEYDB_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 		--disable-java \
 		--disable-tcl \
 		$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_BERKELEYDB_COMPAT185),--enable-compat185,--disable-compat185) \
+		$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_BERKELEYDB_DBM),--enable-dbm,--disable-dbm) \
 		$(SHARED_STATIC_LIBS_OPTS) \
 		--with-pic \
 		--enable-o_direct \