diff --git a/net/dnsdist/Makefile b/net/dnsdist/Makefile
index 0ec409b38..53a94f658 100644
--- a/net/dnsdist/Makefile
+++ b/net/dnsdist/Makefile
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ PKG_CPE_ID:=cpe:/a:powerdns:dnsdist
 
 PKG_INSTALL:=1
 
+PKG_BUILD_DEPENDS:=protobuf/host
+
 PKG_CONFIG_DEPENDS:= \
   CONFIG_DNSDIST_GNUTLS \
   CONFIG_DNSDIST_OPENSSL