diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/gcc-wrapper/ld-wrapper.sh b/pkgs/build-support/gcc-wrapper/ld-wrapper.sh
index 51803e12a4e..822c4a03a21 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/gcc-wrapper/ld-wrapper.sh
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/gcc-wrapper/ld-wrapper.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ if test "$NIX_ENFORCE_PURITY" = "1" -a -n "$NIX_STORE" \
             # We cannot skip this; barf.
             echo "impure path \`$p' used in link" >&2
             exit 1
+        elif test "${p:0:9}" = "--sysroot"; then
+            # Our ld is not built with sysroot support (Can we fix that?)
+            :
         else
             rest=("${rest[@]}" "$p")
         fi