diff --git a/package/gd/gd.mk b/package/gd/gd.mk
index de1f5d1714..1f9b1d694c 100644
--- a/package/gd/gd.mk
+++ b/package/gd/gd.mk
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ endif
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_FREETYPE),y)
 GD_DEPENDENCIES += freetype
 GD_CONF_ENV += ac_cv_path_FREETYPE_CONFIG=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr/bin/freetype-config
+else
+GD_CONF_OPT += --without-freetype
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_JPEG),y)