diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/pal/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/pal/default.nix
index ff7279d0d57..a65bd1fe8ec 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/pal/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/pal/default.nix
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sed -i -e 's,/etc/pal\.conf,'$out/etc/pal.conf, src/input.c
   '';
 
-  preBuild = ''
-    export makeFlags="prefix=$out"
-  '';
+  makeFlags = "prefix=$(out)";
 
   buildInputs = [ glib gettext readline pkgconfig ];
 
+  hardening_format = false;
+
   meta = {
     homepage = http://palcal.sourceforge.net/;
     description = "Command-line calendar program that can keep track of events";