diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/cracklib/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/cracklib/default.nix
index a2670bff6b7..a761582f1c2 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/cracklib/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/cracklib/default.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 { stdenv, fetchurl, zlib, gettext }:
 
+# TODO: wordlist? https://github.com/cracklib/cracklib/releases/download/v2.9.7/cracklib-words-2.9.7.gz is a start!
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "cracklib";
   version = "2.9.7";
@@ -11,6 +12,17 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   buildInputs = [ zlib gettext ];
 
+  postPatch = ''
+    chmod +x util/cracklib-format
+    patchShebangs util
+  '';
+
+  postInstall = ''
+    make dict
+  '';
+  doInstallCheck = true;
+  installCheckTarget = "test";
+
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     homepage    = https://github.com/cracklib/cracklib;
     description = "A library for checking the strength of passwords";