diff --git a/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk b/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
index 8d7157f357..db58870f88 100644
--- a/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
+++ b/package/dhcp/dhcp.mk
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ DHCP_SITE = http://ftp.isc.org/isc/dhcp/$(DHCP_VERSION)
 DHCP_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 DHCP_LICENSE = MPL-2.0
 DHCP_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
-DHCP_DEPENDENCIES = bind
+DHCP_DEPENDENCIES = bind host-gawk
 DHCP_CPE_ID_VENDOR = isc
 
 # use libtool-enabled configure.ac
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ DHCP_CONF_ENV = \
 		-D_PATH_DHCLIENT_CONF=\"/etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf\"' \
 	CFLAGS='$(TARGET_CFLAGS) -DISC_CHECK_NONE=1'
 
+DHCP_CONF_ENV += ac_cv_prog_AWK=$(HOST_DIR)/bin/gawk
+
 DHCP_CONF_OPTS = \
 	--with-libbind=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr \
 	--with-randomdev=/dev/random \
@@ -55,7 +57,6 @@ define DHCP_INSTALL_LIBS
 endef
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_DHCP_SERVER),y)
-DHCP_DEPENDENCIES += host-gawk
 define DHCP_INSTALL_CTL_LIBS
 	$(MAKE) -C $(@D)/dhcpctl install-exec DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR)
 endef