diff --git a/toolchain/gdb/Config.in b/toolchain/gdb/Config.in
index 09701c75e1..edd8715f1f 100644
--- a/toolchain/gdb/Config.in
+++ b/toolchain/gdb/Config.in
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_GDB_SERVER
 
 config BR2_PACKAGE_GDB_HOST
 	bool "Build gdb for the Host"
+	# cross-gdb is supposed to be part of the external
+	# toolchain. And the build currently fails.
+	depends on !BR2_TOOLCHAIN_EXTERNAL
 	help
 	    Build gdb to run on the host to debug programs run on the target.