diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/core/vte/ng.nix b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/core/vte/ng.nix
index ad0188b0053..69f61eb7697 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/core/vte/ng.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/core/vte/ng.nix
@@ -20,5 +20,6 @@ gnome3.vte.overrideAttrs (oldAttrs: rec {
 
   preConfigure = oldAttrs.preConfigure + "; ./autogen.sh";
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ gtk_doc autoconf automake gettext libtool gperf ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = oldAttrs.nativeBuildInputs or []
+    ++ [ gtk_doc autoconf automake gettext libtool gperf ];
 })