diff --git a/net/bird/Makefile b/net/bird/Makefile
index 742bca81c9d3..c02ac345f4b0 100644
--- a/net/bird/Makefile
+++ b/net/bird/Makefile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ COMMENT?=	Dynamic IP routing daemon (IPv4 version)
 
 LICENSE=	GPLv2
 
-USES=		bison gmake
+USES=		bison gmake readline
 GNU_CONFIGURE=	yes
 CONFIGURE_ARGS+=	--localstatedir=/var
 USE_CSTD=	gnu89