diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/robotics/qgroundcontrol/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/robotics/qgroundcontrol/default.nix
index cac9fef182c..676c5013bcd 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/robotics/qgroundcontrol/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/robotics/qgroundcontrol/default.nix
@@ -28,7 +28,15 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   patches = [ ./0001-fix-gcc-cmath-namespace-issues.patch ];
 
+  preConfigure = ''
+    mkdir build
+    cd build
+  '';
+
+  qmakeFlags = [ "../qgroundcontrol.pro" ];
+
   installPhase = ''
+    cd ..
     mkdir -p $out/share/applications
     cp -v qgroundcontrol.desktop $out/share/applications