diff --git a/sys-devel/m4/m4-1.4.16.recipe b/sys-devel/m4/m4-1.4.16.recipe
index aaaeb554e..fc3888bd4 100644
--- a/sys-devel/m4/m4-1.4.16.recipe
+++ b/sys-devel/m4/m4-1.4.16.recipe
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ BUILD_PREREQUIRES="
 	cmd:gcc
 	cmd:ld
 	cmd:make
+	cmd:awk
 	cmd:sed
 	cmd:grep
 	"