diff --git a/pkgs/misc/busybox/default.nix b/pkgs/misc/busybox/default.nix
index 61de814ad74..26d2e050fb7 100644
--- a/pkgs/misc/busybox/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/misc/busybox/default.nix
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
-{stdenv, fetchurl}:
+{stdenv, fetchurl, enableStatic ? false}:
 
 let
   basicConfigure = ''
     make defconfig
     sed -i 's,.*CONFIG_PREFIX.*,CONFIG_PREFIX="'$out'",' .config
     sed -i 's,.*CONFIG_INSTALL_NO_USR.*,CONFIG_INSTALL_NO_USR=y,' .config
-  '';
+  '' +
+    (if enableStatic then ''
+      sed -i 's,.*CONFIG_STATIC.*,CONFIG_STATIC=y,' .config
+    '' else "");
 
 in
 
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index c6333cc0e91..213c4d4e765 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -8915,8 +8915,9 @@ let
     inherit stdenv fetchurl emacs texLive;
   };
 
-  busybox = import ../misc/busybox {
+  busybox = makeOverridable (import ../misc/busybox) {
     inherit fetchurl stdenv;
+    enableStatic = true;
   };
 
   cups = import ../misc/cups {
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/release-cross.nix b/pkgs/top-level/release-cross.nix
index fdac71e2da3..695ee1c38e6 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/release-cross.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/release-cross.nix
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ let
   /* Basic list of packages to cross-build */
   basicHostDrv = {
     bison.hostDrv = nativePlatforms;
+    busybox.hostDrv = nativePlatforms;
     tightvnc.hostDrv = nativePlatforms;
     #openoffice.hostDrv = nativePlatforms;
     wxGTK.hostDrv = nativePlatforms;