diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/hdf5/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/hdf5/default.nix
index 248351272d89..c5485a5b3fb1 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/hdf5/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/hdf5/default.nix
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   outputs = [ "out" "dev" ];
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ removeReferencesTo ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ removeReferencesTo ]
+    ++ optional (gfortran != null) gfortran;
 
   buildInputs = []
-    ++ optional (gfortran != null) gfortran
     ++ optional (szip != null) szip
     ++ optional javaSupport jdk;