diff --git a/package/rene/subversion/subversion.conf b/package/rene/subversion/subversion.conf
index 35846ff45..a586f1bc7 100644
--- a/package/rene/subversion/subversion.conf
+++ b/package/rene/subversion/subversion.conf
@@ -47,5 +47,7 @@ svn_inst_pl() {
 
 hook_add postmake 3 "install_init svnserve $confdir/svnserve.init"
 hook_add postmake 4 "cp -vrf tools $docdir"
-hook_add postmake 5 "svn_inst_pl"
+
+# if swig is present build and install the perl 
+pkginstalled swig && hook_add postmake 5 "svn_inst_pl"