diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/waf/setup-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/waf/setup-hook.sh
index a837bfd17f2..6e9fac0200d 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/waf/setup-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/waf/setup-hook.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ wafConfigurePhase() {
         configureFlags="${prefixKey:---prefix=}$prefix $configureFlags"
     fi
 
-    local flagsArray=();
+    local flagsArray=(@crossFlags@);
     for flag in $configureFlags "${configureFlagsArray[@]}";
     do
         if [[
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 1240d373dbb..dc44e55ed6f 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -6366,7 +6366,11 @@ in
   waf = callPackage ../development/tools/build-managers/waf { python = python3; };
   wafHook = makeSetupHook {
     deps = [ python ];
-    substitutions = { inherit waf; };
+    substitutions = {
+      inherit waf;
+      crossFlags = lib.optionalString (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.targetPlatform)
+        ''--cross-compile "--cross-execute=${stdenv.targetPlatform.emulator pkgs}"'';
+    };
   } ../development/tools/build-managers/waf/setup-hook.sh;
 
   wakelan = callPackage ../tools/networking/wakelan { };