diff --git a/recipes/m4/all/conanfile.py b/recipes/m4/all/conanfile.py
index ceb7e83548ca8..0420d3bb0e641 100644
--- a/recipes/m4/all/conanfile.py
+++ b/recipes/m4/all/conanfile.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 class M4Conan(ConanFile):
     name = "m4"
+    package_type = "application"
     description = "GNU M4 is an implementation of the traditional Unix macro processor"
     topics = ("macro", "preprocessor")
     homepage = "https://www.gnu.org/software/m4/"