diff --git a/RepositoryExternal.mk b/RepositoryExternal.mk
index 240a7fef3628..ada101e3e417 100644
--- a/RepositoryExternal.mk
+++ b/RepositoryExternal.mk
@@ -1321,6 +1321,8 @@ endef
 
 endif # SYSTEM_FONTCONFIG
 
+ifeq ($(ENABLE_GRAPHITE),TRUE)
+
 ifneq ($(SYSTEM_GRAPHITE),)
 
 define gb_LinkTarget__use_graphite
@@ -1348,6 +1350,12 @@ endef
 
 endif # SYSTEM_GRAPHITE
 
+else # !ENABLE_GRAPHITE
+
+gb_LinkTarget__use_graphite :=
+
+endif # ENABLE_GRAPHITE
+
 ifneq ($(SYSTEM_ICU),)
 
 gb_LinkTarget__use_icu_headers:=