diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/3.12/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/3.12/default.nix
index 87fbfd437cc..7fbbd941327 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/3.12/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/3.12/default.nix
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 rec {
   inherit (pkgs) glib gtk2 gtk3 gnome2;
-  gnome3 = pkgs.gnome3_12;
+  gnome3 = pkgs.gnome3_12 // { recurseForDerivations = false; };
   clutter = pkgs.clutter_1_18;
   clutter_gtk = pkgs.clutter_gtk.override { inherit clutter; };
   clutter-gst = pkgs.clutter-gst.override { inherit clutter; };