diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/gnome-builder/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/gnome-builder/default.nix
index 0a7bc42bd4b..3ed47c14e74 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/gnome-builder/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/gnome-builder/default.nix
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 { stdenv
 , desktop-file-utils
 , docbook_xsl
+, docbook_xml_dtd_43
 , fetchurl
 , flatpak
+, glibcLocales
 , gnome3
 , gobjectIntrospection
 , gspell
@@ -41,6 +43,8 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation {
     #appstream-glib # tests fail if these tools are available
     desktop-file-utils
     docbook_xsl
+    docbook_xml_dtd_43
+    glibcLocales # for Meson's gtkdochelper
     gobjectIntrospection
     gtk-doc
     hicolor-icon-theme
@@ -91,6 +95,10 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation {
     "-Dwith_docs=true"
   ];
 
+  preInstall = ''
+    export LC_ALL="en_US.utf-8"
+  '';
+
   pythonPath = with python3.pkgs; requiredPythonModules [ pygobject3 ];
 
   preFixup = ''