diff --git a/pkgs/tools/text/mawk/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/text/mawk/default.nix
index 203a79fa381d..4fefe9000997 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/text/mawk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/text/mawk/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl }:
+{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl, buildPackages }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "mawk";
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "sha256-bbejKsecURB60xpAfU+SxrhC3eL2inUztOe3sD6JAL4=";
   };
 
+  depsBuildBuild = [ buildPackages.stdenv.cc ];
+
   meta = with lib; {
     description = "Interpreter for the AWK Programming Language";
     homepage = "https://invisible-island.net/mawk/mawk.html";