diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/macport-24.5.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/macport-24.5.nix
index 885538dc883..8a33155d62b 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/macport-24.5.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/macport-24.5.nix
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "--enable-mac-app=$$out/Applications"
   ];
 
-  CFLAGS = "-O3 -DMAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED=1090";
+  CFLAGS = "-O3 -DMAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED=1090 -DMAC_OS_X_VERSION_MIN_REQUIRED=1090";
   LDFLAGS = "-O3 -L${ncurses.out}/lib";
 
   postInstall = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/macport-25.1.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/macport-25.1.nix
index 81e77c725d9..0f947a1f46a 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/macport-25.1.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/macport-25.1.nix
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "--enable-mac-app=$$out/Applications"
   ];
 
-  CFLAGS = "-O3 -DMAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED=1090";
+  CFLAGS = "-O3 -DMAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED=1090 -DMAC_OS_X_VERSION_MIN_REQUIRED=1090";
   LDFLAGS = "-O3 -L${ncurses.out}/lib";
 
   postInstall = ''