diff --git a/sys-libs/gpm/gpm-1.20.7-r3.ebuild b/sys-libs/gpm/gpm-1.20.7-r3.ebuild
index bb7b8679025ae..22f9f5d1a4aad 100644
--- a/sys-libs/gpm/gpm-1.20.7-r3.ebuild
+++ b/sys-libs/gpm/gpm-1.20.7-r3.ebuild
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	sys-apps/texinfo
 	virtual/yacc"
 
-CONFIG_CHECK="INPUT_MOUSEDEV"
+CONFIG_CHECK="~INPUT_MOUSEDEV"
 ERROR_INPUT_MOUSEDEV="CONFIG_INPUT_MOUSEDEV:\tis not set (required to expose mice for GPM)"
 
 pkg_pretend() {