diff --git a/pkgs/applications/misc/mako/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/misc/mako/default.nix
index 6a1f4389b64..3bd11ce68ac 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/misc/mako/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/misc/mako/default.nix
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "sha256-/+XYf8FiH4lk7f7/pMt43hm13mRK+UqvaNOpf1TI6m4=";
   };
 
+  depsBuildBuild = [ pkg-config ];
   nativeBuildInputs = [ meson ninja pkg-config scdoc wayland-protocols wrapGAppsHook ];
   buildInputs = [ systemd pango cairo gdk-pixbuf wayland ];