diff --git a/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/default.nix
index c655637d1fb..3138c0954e6 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/default.nix
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ''
       --with-store-dir=${storeDir} --localstatedir=${stateDir}
       --with-aterm=${aterm} --with-bzip2=${bzip2}
+      ${stdenv.lib.optionalString (openssl != null) "--with-openssl=${openssl}"}
       --disable-init-state
     '';