diff --git a/meta/recipes-graphics/freetype/freetype_2.5.3.bb b/meta/recipes-graphics/freetype/freetype_2.5.3.bb
index 7182c21943..5d239e85fa 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-graphics/freetype/freetype_2.5.3.bb
+++ b/meta/recipes-graphics/freetype/freetype_2.5.3.bb
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ EXTRA_OECONF = "--without-zlib --without-bzip2 CC_BUILD='${BUILD_CC}'"
 
 PACKAGECONFIG ??= ""
 PACKAGECONFIG[pixmap] = "--with-png,--without-png,libpng"
+# This results in a circular dependency so enabling is non-trivial
+PACKAGECONFIG[harfbuzz] = "--with-harfbuzz,--without-harfbuzz,harfbuzz"
 
 do_configure() {
 	cd builds/unix