diff --git a/pkgs/tools/networking/dnsmasq/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/networking/dnsmasq/default.nix
index d8f4285e0b81..a9e4b1390a15 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/networking/dnsmasq/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/networking/dnsmasq/default.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 { lib, stdenv, fetchurl, pkg-config, dbus, nettle, fetchpatch
-, libidn, libnetfilter_conntrack }:
+, libidn, libnetfilter_conntrack, buildPackages }:
 
 with lib;
 let
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "BINDIR=$(out)/bin"
     "MANDIR=$(out)/man"
     "LOCALEDIR=$(out)/share/locale"
+    "PKG_CONFIG=${buildPackages.pkg-config}/bin/${buildPackages.pkg-config.targetPrefix}pkg-config"
   ];
 
   hardeningEnable = [ "pie" ];