diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/spdlog/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/spdlog/default.nix
index ac74b74ccf1..7b6c98bebe8 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/spdlog/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/spdlog/default.nix
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ let
       };
 
       nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
-      buildInputs = [ fmt ];
+      # spdlog <1.3 uses a bundled version of fmt
+      propagatedBuildInputs = lib.optional (lib.versionAtLeast version "1.3") fmt;
 
       cmakeFlags = [
         "-DSPDLOG_BUILD_SHARED=${if stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic then "OFF" else "ON"}"
@@ -25,7 +26,9 @@ let
         "-DSPDLOG_FMT_EXTERNAL=ON"
       ];
 
-      outputs = [ "out" "doc" ];
+      outputs = [ "out" "doc" ]
+        # spdlog <1.4 is header only, no need to split libraries and headers
+        ++ lib.optional (lib.versionAtLeast version "1.4") "dev";
 
       postInstall = ''
         mkdir -p $out/share/doc/spdlog