diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2024-09-24-08-30-25.gh-issue-124424.UBXNFo.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2024-09-24-08-30-25.gh-issue-124424.UBXNFo.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..91a9cbff387429
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2024-09-24-08-30-25.gh-issue-124424.UBXNFo.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Enable cross-compiling for x86_64-freebsd
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1864e94ace9243..c9059a6dd8fc06 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -339,6 +339,9 @@ then
 	*-*-wasi)
 	    ac_sys_system=WASI
 	    ;;
+	*-*-freebsd)
+	    ac_sys_system=FreeBSD
+	    ;;
 	*)
 		# for now, limit cross builds to known configurations
 		MACHDEP="unknown"
@@ -777,6 +780,9 @@ if test "$cross_compiling" = yes; then
 	wasm32-*-* | wasm64-*-*)
 		_host_ident=$host_cpu
 		;;
+	x86_64-*-freebsd)
+		_host_ident=x86_64
+		;;
 	*)
 		# for now, limit cross builds to known configurations
 		MACHDEP="unknown"