diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/binutils-cross/builder.sh b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/binutils-cross/builder.sh
index 788effe9b24..d588896f38b 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/binutils-cross/builder.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/binutils-cross/builder.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 source $stdenv/setup
 
+if test $cross = "arm-linux" ; then
+  configureFlags="--target=arm-linux"
+elif test $cross = "mips-linux" ; then
+  configureFlags="--target=mips-linux"
+elif test $cross = "sparc-linux" ; then
+  configureFlags="--target=sparc-linux"
+fi
+
 patchConfigure() {
     # Clear the default library search path.
     if test "$noSysDirs" = "1"; then
diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/binutils-cross/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/binutils-cross/default.nix
index ae758611fff..7d77baced37 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/binutils-cross/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/binutils-cross/default.nix
@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     md5 = "6a9d529efb285071dad10e1f3d2b2967";
   };
   inherit noSysDirs;
-  configureFlags = if cross=="arm-linux" then "--target=arm-linux" else if cross=="mips-linux" then "--target=mips-linux" else "";
+  #configureFlags = if cross=="arm-linux" then "--target=arm-linux" else if cross=="mips-linux" then "--target=mips-linux" else if cross=="sparc-linux" then "--target=sparc-linux"; 
+  inherit cross;
 }