diff --git a/ftp/ncftp3/Makefile b/ftp/ncftp3/Makefile
index f9fa72ccf010..25387e61d446 100644
--- a/ftp/ncftp3/Makefile
+++ b/ftp/ncftp3/Makefile
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ USES=		ncurses tar:bzip2
 WRKSRC=		${WRKDIR}/${DISTNAME:S/-src//}
 USE_LDCONFIG=	yes
 GNU_CONFIGURE=	yes
+CONFIGURE_ENV+=	ac_cv_header_ncurses_h=yes
 
 PORTDOCS=	*