diff --git a/package/x11r7/xapp_bdftopcf/xapp_bdftopcf.mk b/package/x11r7/xapp_bdftopcf/xapp_bdftopcf.mk
index 950d988ad7..64c21037b2 100644
--- a/package/x11r7/xapp_bdftopcf/xapp_bdftopcf.mk
+++ b/package/x11r7/xapp_bdftopcf/xapp_bdftopcf.mk
@@ -11,5 +11,8 @@ XAPP_BDFTOPCF_LICENSE = MIT
 XAPP_BDFTOPCF_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING
 XAPP_BDFTOPCF_DEPENDENCIES = xlib_libXfont
 
+# needed for linking against libXfont
+XAPP_BDFTOPCF_MAKE_OPTS += LIBS=-ldl
+
 $(eval $(autotools-package))
 $(eval $(host-autotools-package))