diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/readline/6.3.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/readline/6.3.nix
index 80cc7e923b8..822ce7b0055 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/readline/6.3.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/readline/6.3.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-{ fetchurl, stdenv, ncurses }:
+{ fetchurl, stdenv, ncurses
+, buildPlatform, hostPlatform
+}:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   name = "readline-6.3p08";
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
        import ./readline-6.3-patches.nix patch);
 
   # Don't run the native `strip' when cross-compiling.
-  dontStrip = stdenv ? cross;
+  dontStrip = hostPlatform != buildPlatform;
   bash_cv_func_sigsetjmp = if stdenv.isCygwin then "missing" else null;
 
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {