diff --git a/package/xterm/xterm.mk b/package/xterm/xterm.mk
index 645de92e22..201280fd46 100644
--- a/package/xterm/xterm.mk
+++ b/package/xterm/xterm.mk
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ XTERM_CONF_OPTS = --enable-256-color \
 	--x-includes=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/include \
 	--x-libraries=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/lib
 
+# Avoid freetype2 path poisoning by imake
+XTERM_CONF_ENV = ac_cv_path_IMAKE=""
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_XLIB_LIBXFT),y)
 XTERM_DEPENDENCIES += xlib_libXft
 XTERM_CONF_OPTS += --enable-freetype \