diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/flite/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/flite/default.nix
index 24927fe853b..a80c317b06e 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/flite/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/flite/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ lib, stdenv, fetchFromGitHub, alsaLib }:
+{ lib, stdenv, fetchFromGitHub, alsaLib, fetchpatch }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "flite";
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   buildInputs = lib.optionals stdenv.isLinux [ alsaLib ];
 
+  # https://github.com/festvox/flite/pull/60.
+  # Replaces `ar` with `$(AR)` in config/common_make_rules.
+  # Improves cross-compilation compatibility.
+  patches = [
+    (fetchpatch {
+      url = "https://github.com/festvox/flite/commit/54c65164840777326bbb83517568e38a128122ef.patch";
+      sha256 = "sha256-hvKzdX7adiqd9D+9DbnfNdqEULg1Hhqe1xElYxNM1B8=";
+    })
+  ];
+
   configureFlags = [
     "--enable-shared"
   ] ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isLinux [ "--with-audio=alsa" ];