The ftdi driver is only compiled if headers are present. Remove it from the static list.
Index: lirc-0.8.5/configure.ac
===================================================================
--- lirc-0.8.5.orig/configure.ac
+++ lirc-0.8.5/configure.ac
@@ -122,6 +122,8 @@ dnl this could be _much_ more sophistica
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for which drivers can be installed on this system])
 AC_MSG_RESULT()
 
+# this list must only contain userspace drivers without external
+# (header/library) dependencies!
 possible_drivers="(none) \
 	(userspace) \
 	(accent) \
@@ -129,7 +131,6 @@ possible_drivers="(none) \
 	(creative) \
 	(ea65) \
 	(exaudio) \
-	(ftdi) \
 	(irlink) \
 	(irreal) \
 	(livedrive_midi) \