diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/file/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/file/default.nix
index aeb43d7c115..485f46d0314 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/file/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/file/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, file, zlib }:
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, file, zlib, libgnurx }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   name = "file-${version}";
@@ -13,10 +13,13 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   };
 
   nativeBuildInputs = stdenv.lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform) file;
-  buildInputs = [ zlib ];
+  buildInputs = [ zlib ]
+              ++ stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isWindows libgnurx;
 
   doCheck = true;
 
+  makeFlags = if stdenv.hostPlatform.isWindows then "FILE_COMPILE=file"
+              else null;
 
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     homepage = http://darwinsys.com/file;
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index de255678ca2..5c0e1ddb26e 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -2387,7 +2387,9 @@ with pkgs;
 
   figlet = callPackage ../tools/misc/figlet { };
 
-  file = callPackage ../tools/misc/file { };
+  file = callPackage ../tools/misc/file {
+    inherit (windows) libgnurx;
+  };
 
   filegive = callPackage ../tools/networking/filegive { };