diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
index 5760e057ecba..d64aae85c378 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
@@ -123,7 +123,17 @@ KBUILD_HAVE_NLS := $(shell \
      then echo yes ; \
      else echo no ; fi)
 ifeq ($(KBUILD_HAVE_NLS),no)
-HOSTCFLAGS	+= -DKBUILD_NO_NLS
+  HOSTCFLAGS   += -DKBUILD_NO_NLS
+else
+  KBUILD_NEED_LINTL := $(shell \
+    if echo -e "\#include <libintl.h>\nint main(int a, char** b) { gettext(\"\"); return 0; }\n" | \
+      $(HOSTCC) $(HOSTCFLAGS) -x c - -o /dev/null> /dev/null 2>&1 ; \
+    then echo no ; \
+    else echo yes ; fi)
+  ifeq ($(KBUILD_NEED_LINTL),yes)
+    HOSTLOADLIBES_conf += -lintl
+    HOSTLOADLIBES_mconf        += -lintl
+  endif
 endif
 
 # generated files seem to need this to find local include files