diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/gnome/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/gnome/default.nix
index 8c8385a66f5..ce856bdbe31 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/gnome/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/gnome/default.nix
@@ -309,8 +309,10 @@ rec {
       pkgconfig glib gtk
       gettext intltool gnomedocutils libglade
       libxslt
+      xlibs.libX11
     ];
 
+    preConfigure = ''export NIX_LDFLAGS="$NIX_LDFLAGS -lX11";'';
     configureFlags = "--disable-scrollkeeper";
   };