diff --git a/lib/libncurses/Makefile b/lib/libncurses/Makefile
index 3e4fdae0f0ce..6db4a7bc69df 100644
--- a/lib/libncurses/Makefile
+++ b/lib/libncurses/Makefile
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ BROKEN_LINKER=		0
 BUILTIN_BOOL=		1
 BOOL_TYPE=		0
 HAVE_VSSCANF=		1
-.if defined(BOOTSTRAPPING)
+.if defined(BOOTSTRAPPING) && !exists(/usr/include/stdbool.h)
 HEADER_STDBOOL=		0
 .else
 HEADER_STDBOOL=		1
diff --git a/lib/ncurses/ncurses/Makefile b/lib/ncurses/ncurses/Makefile
index 3e4fdae0f0ce..6db4a7bc69df 100644
--- a/lib/ncurses/ncurses/Makefile
+++ b/lib/ncurses/ncurses/Makefile
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ BROKEN_LINKER=		0
 BUILTIN_BOOL=		1
 BOOL_TYPE=		0
 HAVE_VSSCANF=		1
-.if defined(BOOTSTRAPPING)
+.if defined(BOOTSTRAPPING) && !exists(/usr/include/stdbool.h)
 HEADER_STDBOOL=		0
 .else
 HEADER_STDBOOL=		1