diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/readline/readline6.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/readline/readline6.nix
index c789791b29f..60232a8b80b 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/readline/readline6.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/readline/readline6.nix
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "1pn13j6f9376kwki69050x3zh62yb1w31l37rws5nwr5q02xk68i";
   };
 
-  propagatedHostInputs = [ncurses];
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ncurses];
 
   patchFlags = "-p0";
   patches =