diff --git a/srcpkgs/gdbm/template b/srcpkgs/gdbm/template
index 45246f9e2c..7997e112d3 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/gdbm/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/gdbm/template
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ pkgname=gdbm
 version=1.10
 revision=4
 subpackages="gdbm-devel"
-makedepends="automake>=1.13.1_2 gettext-devel"
 build_style=gnu-configure
 configure_args="--enable-libgdbm-compat --disable-rpath"
 short_desc="GNU database routines"
@@ -16,9 +15,12 @@ long_desc="
  GNU dbm is a set of database routines that use extensible hashing.
  It works similar to the standard Unix dbm routines."
 
-pre_configure() {
-	autoreconf -fi
-}
+if [ "$XBPS_CROSS_BUILD" ]; then
+	hostmakedepends="automake>=1.13.1_2 gettext-devel"
+	pre_configure() {
+		autoreconf -fi
+	}
+fi
 
 post_install() {
 	# create symlinks for compatibility