diff --git a/package/bird/Config.in b/package/bird/Config.in
index 22c39f8488..c2951c74c3 100644
--- a/package/bird/Config.in
+++ b/package/bird/Config.in
@@ -67,6 +67,11 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_RADV
 	help
 	  Enable RAdv protocol.
 
+config BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_RIP
+	bool "rip"
+	help
+	  Enable RIP protocol.
+
 config BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_STATIC
 	bool "static"
 	help
diff --git a/package/bird/bird.mk b/package/bird/bird.mk
index 267968afb1..46c868ac30 100644
--- a/package/bird/bird.mk
+++ b/package/bird/bird.mk
@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@ else
 BIRD_CONF_OPTS += --disable-client
 endif
 
-# BUG: RIP is mandatory for now
 BIRD_PROTOCOLS = \
-	rip \
 	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_BFD),bfd) \
 	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_BABEL),babel) \
 	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_BIRD_BGP),bgp) \