diff --git a/srcpkgs/chroot-texinfo/template b/srcpkgs/chroot-texinfo/template
index 5b8783bc40f..6598f7e2571 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/chroot-texinfo/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/chroot-texinfo/template
@@ -14,12 +14,21 @@ bootstrap=yes
 conflicts="texinfo>=0"
 provides="texinfo-${version}"
 
+if [ -n "$IN_CHROOT" ]; then
+	makedepends="ncurses-devel"
+fi
+
 do_configure() {
 	./configure ${CONFIGURE_SHARED_ARGS} --disable-nls
 }
 
 do_build() {
-	make ${makejobs} -C tools/gnulib/lib && make ${makejobs} -C tools && make ${makejobs}
+	if [ -d tools ]; then
+		make ${makejobs} -C tools/gnulib/lib && \
+			make ${makejobs} -C tools && make ${makejobs}
+	else
+		make ${makejobs}
+	fi
 }
 
 do_install() {