diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libspnav/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libspnav/default.nix
index fb2a2744d6a..b7136144768 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libspnav/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libspnav/default.nix
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   buildInputs = [ libX11 ];
 
   configureFlags = [ "--disable-debug"];
+  makeFlags = [ "CC=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}cc" ];
 
   preInstall = ''
     mkdir -p $out/{lib,include}