diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/5.4/qtbase.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/5.4/qtbase.nix
index ecefa891332..780f1b60f7c 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/5.4/qtbase.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/5.4/qtbase.nix
@@ -174,7 +174,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   ++ optional (postgresql != null) postgresql
   ++ optionals gtkStyle [gnome_vfs libgnomeui gtk GConf];
 
-  buildInputs = [ gdb bison flex gperf ruby ];
+  buildInputs =
+    [ bison flex gperf ruby ]
+    ++ optional developerBuild gdb;
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [ python perl pkgconfig ];