diff --git a/eclass/kernel-build.eclass b/eclass/kernel-build.eclass
index d92076d61c04f..10fd0cca2cc54 100644
--- a/eclass/kernel-build.eclass
+++ b/eclass/kernel-build.eclass
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	${PYTHON_DEPS}
 	app-alternatives/cpio
 	app-alternatives/bc
+	dev-lang/perl
 	sys-devel/bison
 	sys-devel/flex
 	virtual/libelf