diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/elinks/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/elinks/default.nix
index 9334ff4bd41..1618042364e 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/elinks/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/elinks/default.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 { stdenv, fetchurl, python, perl, ncurses, x11, bzip2, zlib, openssl
-, spidermonkey, guile, gpm }:
+, spidermonkey, gpm
+, enableGuile ? true, guile ? null }:
+
+assert enableGuile -> guile != null;
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   name = "elinks-0.12pre5";
@@ -11,14 +14,15 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   patches = [ ./gc-init.patch ];
 
-  buildInputs = [ python perl ncurses x11 bzip2 zlib openssl spidermonkey guile gpm ];
+  buildInputs = [ python perl ncurses x11 bzip2 zlib openssl spidermonkey gpm ]
+    ++ stdenv.lib.optional enableGuile guile;
 
   configureFlags =
     ''
-      --enable-finger --enable-html-highlight --with-guile
+      --enable-finger --enable-html-highlight
       --with-perl --with-python --enable-gopher --enable-cgi --enable-bittorrent
       --enable-nntp --with-openssl=${openssl}
-    '';
+    '' + stdenv.lib.optionalString enableGuile " --with-guile";
 
   crossAttrs = {
     propagatedBuildInputs = [ ncurses.crossDrv zlib.crossDrv openssl.crossDrv ];