diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/ncurses/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/ncurses/default.nix
index 4e2c731d7e2..c79f1c90899 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/ncurses/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/ncurses/default.nix
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
   # Only the C compiler, and explicitly not C++ compiler needs this flag on solaris:
   CFLAGS = lib.optionalString stdenv.isSunOS "-D_XOPEN_SOURCE_EXTENDED";
 
+  strictDeps = true;
   depsBuildBuild = [
     buildPackages.stdenv.cc
   ];