diff --git a/meta/conf/distro/include/poky-default.inc b/meta/conf/distro/include/poky-default.inc
index 3ec5e1d2c2..91985b3afc 100644
--- a/meta/conf/distro/include/poky-default.inc
+++ b/meta/conf/distro/include/poky-default.inc
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/${TARGET_PREFIX}compilerlibs = "gcc-runtime"
 PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/${TARGET_PREFIX}libc-initial = "${POKYLIBC}-initial"
 PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/${SDK_PREFIX}libc-for-gcc-nativesdk ?= "${POKYLIBC}-nativesdk"
 
+PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/gettext ??= "gettext"
 
 GCCVERSION ?= "4.5.1"
 SDKGCCVERSION ?= "4.5.1"