diff --git a/pkgs/applications/misc/dmenu/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/misc/dmenu/default.nix
index 90754b8fb1d..e6b62817b90 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/misc/dmenu/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/misc/dmenu/default.nix
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sed -i "s@PREFIX = /usr/local@PREFIX = $out@g" config.mk
   '';
 
+  makeFlags = [ "CC:=$(CC)" ];
+
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
       description = "A generic, highly customizable, and efficient menu for the X Window System";
       homepage = https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu;