diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
index 2dcdcdc4a91..1e5c64ccb8a 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 { lib, stdenv, kernel, elfutils, python, perl, newt, slang, asciidoc, xmlto
 , docbook_xsl, docbook_xml_dtd_45, libxslt, flex, bison, pkgconfig, libunwind, binutils
-, withGtk ? false, gtk ? null }:
+, zlib, withGtk ? false, gtk ? null }:
 
 with lib;
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   # perf refers both to newt and slang
   # binutils is required for libbfd.
   nativeBuildInputs = [ asciidoc xmlto docbook_xsl docbook_xml_dtd_45 libxslt flex bison ];
-  buildInputs = [ python perl newt slang pkgconfig libunwind binutils ] ++
+  buildInputs = [ python perl newt slang pkgconfig libunwind binutils zlib ] ++
     stdenv.lib.optional withGtk gtk;
 
   # Note: we don't add elfutils to buildInputs, since it provides a