diff --git a/package/protobuf/protobuf.mk b/package/protobuf/protobuf.mk
index b42687397a..0426fcec07 100644
--- a/package/protobuf/protobuf.mk
+++ b/package/protobuf/protobuf.mk
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ PROTOBUF_VERSION = v2.5.0
 PROTOBUF_SITE = $(call github,google,protobuf,$(PROTOBUF_VERSION))
 PROTOBUF_LICENSE = BSD-3c
 PROTOBUF_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING.txt
+# no configure script
+PROTOBUF_AUTORECONF = YES
 
 # N.B. Need to use host protoc during cross compilation.
 PROTOBUF_DEPENDENCIES = host-protobuf