diff --git a/srcpkgs/xboard/template b/srcpkgs/xboard/template
index 59e1efd205..8ff70fb6a6 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/xboard/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/xboard/template
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ version=4.9.1
 revision=1
 build_style=gnu-configure
 configure_args="--with-gtk --enable-zippy"
-hostmakedepends="pkg-config"
+hostmakedepends="pkg-config perl"
 makedepends="gtk+-devel cairo-devel librsvg-devel"
 depends="gnuchess alsa-utils desktop-file-utils shared-mime-info hicolor-icon-theme"
 short_desc="X graphical user interface for chess"