diff --git a/pkgs/tools/text/gawk/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/text/gawk/default.nix
index 65d0a1e4c00..6783158ca77 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/text/gawk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/text/gawk/default.nix
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     (if interactive then "--with-readline=${readline.dev}" else "--without-readline")
   ];
 
+  makeFlags = "AR=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}ar";
+
   inherit doCheck;
 
   postInstall = ''