diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/bazel/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/bazel/default.nix
index 1dac9513f94..8cb137aeda3 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/bazel/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/bazel/default.nix
@@ -114,11 +114,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
         examples/java-native/src/test/java/com/example/myproject:hello
   '';
 
-  # Bazel expects gcc and java to be in the path.
   installPhase = ''
     mkdir -p $out/bin
     mv output/bazel $out/bin
-    wrapProgram "$out/bin/bazel" --prefix PATH : "${lib.makeBinPath [ stdenv.cc jdk ]}"
+    wrapProgram "$out/bin/bazel" --set JAVA_HOME "${jdk}"
     mkdir -p $out/share/bash-completion/completions $out/share/zsh/site-functions
     mv output/bazel-complete.bash $out/share/bash-completion/completions/
     cp scripts/zsh_completion/_bazel $out/share/zsh/site-functions/