diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/cygwin/prehook.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/cygwin/prehook.sh
index c9feff99167..673640c0d4a 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/cygwin/prehook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/cygwin/prehook.sh
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 export NIX_ENFORCE_PURITY=
-export configureFlags="$configureFlags --disable-shared"
+
+if test -z "$cygwinConfigureEnableShared"; then
+  export configureFlags="$configureFlags --disable-shared"
+fi