diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/json-glib/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/json-glib/default.nix
index ed086dac90f..b879af32bd0 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/json-glib/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/json-glib/default.nix
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 , ninja
 , pkg-config
 , gettext
+, withIntrospection ? stdenv.buildPlatform == stdenv.hostPlatform
 , gobject-introspection
 , fixDarwinDylibNames
 , gtk-doc
@@ -18,31 +19,45 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "json-glib";
   version = "1.6.2";
 
-  outputs = [ "out" "dev" "devdoc" ];
+  outputs = [ "out" "dev" ]
+    ++ lib.optional withIntrospection "devdoc";
 
   src = fetchurl {
     url = "mirror://gnome/sources/${pname}/${lib.versions.majorMinor version}/${pname}-${version}.tar.xz";
     sha256 = "092g2dyy1hhl0ix9kp33wcab0pg1qicnsv0cj5ms9g9qs336cgd3";
   };
 
+  strictDeps = true;
+
+  depsBuildBuild = [
+    pkg-config
+  ];
+
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     meson
     ninja
     pkg-config
     gettext
-    gobject-introspection
     glib
-    gtk-doc
     docbook-xsl-nons
     docbook_xml_dtd_43
   ] ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin [
     fixDarwinDylibNames
+  ] ++ lib.optionals withIntrospection [
+    gobject-introspection
+    gtk-doc
   ];
 
   propagatedBuildInputs = [
     glib
   ];
 
+  mesonFlags = lib.optionals (!withIntrospection) [
+    "-Dintrospection=disabled"
+    # doc gen uses introspection, doesn't work properly
+    "-Dgtk_doc=disabled"
+  ];
+
   doCheck = true;
 
   passthru = {
diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/documentation/gtk-doc/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/documentation/gtk-doc/default.nix
index e74a6b9c3c6..55fd0feff10 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/documentation/gtk-doc/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/documentation/gtk-doc/default.nix
@@ -32,6 +32,13 @@ python3.pkgs.buildPythonApplication rec {
     passthru.respect_xml_catalog_files_var_patch
   ];
 
+  strictDeps = true;
+
+  depsBuildBuild = [
+    python3
+    pkg-config
+  ];
+
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     pkg-config
     gettext