diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/cairo/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/cairo/default.nix
index 8c9f55426d5..359895312a6 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/cairo/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/cairo/default.nix
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     stdenv.lib.optional postscriptSupport zlib ++
     stdenv.lib.optional pngSupport libpng;
 
+  NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-I${pixman}/include/pixman-1";
+
   configureFlags =
     [ "--enable-tee" ]
     ++ stdenv.lib.optional xcbSupport "--enable-xcb"