diff --git a/srcpkgs/help2man/template b/srcpkgs/help2man/template
index 04762df68a9..e15df17bc45 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/help2man/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/help2man/template
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@ pkgname=help2man
 version=1.49.2
 revision=1
 build_style=gnu-configure
-hostmakedepends="perl-Locale-gettext gettext"
+# no 'gettext' build dependency, it creates a cycle:
+# automake -> autoconf -> help2man -> !gettext! -> automake
+hostmakedepends="perl-Locale-gettext"
 depends="perl-Locale-gettext"
 short_desc="GNU conversion tool to create man files"
 maintainer="Orphaned <orphan@voidlinux.org>"