diff --git a/package/newt/Config.in b/package/newt/Config.in
index 1b3068a16..a2216155b 100644
--- a/package/newt/Config.in
+++ b/package/newt/Config.in
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_NEWT
 	bool "newt"
 	depends on BR2_USE_WCHAR
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU # slang
+	depends on !BR2_STATIC_LIBS # unconditionally creates .so
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_SLANG
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_POPT
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_GETTEXT if BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT_IF_LOCALE
@@ -10,6 +11,6 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_NEWT
 
 	  http://www.redhat.com/
 
-comment "newt needs a toolchain w/ wchar"
+comment "newt needs a toolchain w/ wchar, dynamic library"
 	depends on BR2_USE_MMU
-	depends on !BR2_USE_WCHAR
+	depends on !BR2_USE_WCHAR || BR2_STATIC_LIBS