diff --git a/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
index 8c48417a819..00be3967768 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   # cannot be used as a login shell for now.
   FORCE_UNSAFE_CONFIGURE = stdenv.lib.optionalString (stdenv.system == "armv7l-linux" || stdenv.isSunOS) "1";
 
+  preConfigure = if stdenv.isCygwin then ''
+    sed -i gnu/fpending.h -e 's,include <stdio_ext.h>,,'
+  '' else null;
+
   meta = {
     homepage = http://www.gnu.org/software/tar/;
     description = "GNU implementation of the `tar' archiver";