diff --git a/package/benejson/benejson.mk b/package/benejson/benejson.mk
index 75753d2da4..2b8d09d301 100644
--- a/package/benejson/benejson.mk
+++ b/package/benejson/benejson.mk
@@ -9,9 +9,17 @@ BENEJSON_SITE = $(call github,codehero,benejson,$(BENEJSON_VERSION))
 BENEJSON_LICENSE = MIT
 BENEJSON_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
 BENEJSON_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
-
 BENEJSON_DEPENDENCIES = host-scons
 
+# wchar support needs to be manually disabled
+ifeq ($(BR2_USE_WCHAR),)
+define BENEJSON_DISABLE_WCHAR
+	$(SED) 's,^#define BNJ_WCHAR_SUPPORT,#undef BNJ_WCHAR_SUPPORT,' \
+		$(@D)/benejson/benejson.h
+endef
+BENEJSON_POST_PATCH_HOOKS += BENEJSON_DISABLE_WCHAR
+endif
+
 define BENEJSON_BUILD_CMDS
 	(cd $(@D); \
 		$(TARGET_CONFIGURE_OPTS) CROSS=$(TARGET_CROSS) \