diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libvdpau/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libvdpau/default.nix
index dd3703e6aeb..52359a3a4cd 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libvdpau/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libvdpau/default.nix
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   configureFlags = stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isLinux
     "--with-module-dir=${libGL_driver.driverLink}/lib/vdpau";
 
+  NIX_LDFLAGS = if stdenv.isDarwin then "-lX11" else null;
+
   installFlags = [ "moduledir=$(out)/lib/vdpau" ];
 
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {