diff --git a/package/gdb/gdb.mk b/package/gdb/gdb.mk
index cee7b37bcd..2759521a3c 100644
--- a/package/gdb/gdb.mk
+++ b/package/gdb/gdb.mk
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ HOST_GDB_CONF_OPTS = \
 	--with-system-zlib \
 	--with-curses \
 	--without-mpfr \
+	--disable-source-highlight \
 	$(GDB_DISABLE_BINUTILS_CONF_OPTS)
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_GDB_TUI),y)