diff --git a/package/dbus/dbus.mk b/package/dbus/dbus.mk
index 70f2c6fef4..b58f1ddda3 100644
--- a/package/dbus/dbus.mk
+++ b/package/dbus/dbus.mk
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ DBUS_CONF_OPTS = \
 	--disable-asserts \
 	--disable-xml-docs \
 	--disable-doxygen-docs \
-	--with-xml=expat \
 	--with-system-socket=/run/dbus/system_bus_socket \
 	--with-system-pid-file=/run/messagebus.pid
 
@@ -110,8 +109,7 @@ HOST_DBUS_CONF_OPTS = \
 	--disable-xml-docs \
 	--disable-doxygen-docs \
 	--disable-systemd \
-	--without-x \
-	--with-xml=expat
+	--without-x
 
 # dbus for the host
 DBUS_HOST_INTROSPECT = $(HOST_DBUS_DIR)/introspect.xml