diff --git a/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
index 1db426669bb..5c3b309ba9b 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
@@ -37,4 +37,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (rec {
   # cannot be used as a login shell for now.
 // stdenv.lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.system == "armv7l-linux") {
   FORCE_UNSAFE_CONFIGURE = 1;
+}
+
+//
+
+{
+  crossAttrs =
+    # XXX: Temporary workaround to allow GNU/Hurd builds with newer libcs.
+    (stdenv.lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.cross.config == "i586-pc-gnu") {
+      patches = [ ../../misc/coreutils/gets-undeclared.patch ];
+    });
 })
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/compression/gzip/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/compression/gzip/default.nix
index b32bbb932e8..a49a741c5ca 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/compression/gzip/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/compression/gzip/default.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {stdenv, fetchurl}:
 
-stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
+stdenv.mkDerivation (rec {
   name = "gzip-1.4";
 
   src = fetchurl {
@@ -31,3 +31,13 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     maintainers = [ stdenv.lib.maintainers.ludo ];
   };
 }
+
+//
+
+{
+  crossAttrs =
+    # XXX: Temporary workaround to allow GNU/Hurd builds with newer libcs.
+    (stdenv.lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.cross.config == "i586-pc-gnu") {
+      patches = [ ../../misc/coreutils/gets-undeclared.patch ];
+    });
+})
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/text/diffutils/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/text/diffutils/default.nix
index eae48f2e3a4..086a44675a9 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/text/diffutils/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/text/diffutils/default.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {stdenv, fetchurl, coreutils ? null}:
 
-stdenv.mkDerivation {
+stdenv.mkDerivation ({
   name = "diffutils-3.2";
   
   src = fetchurl {
@@ -16,3 +16,13 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     description = "Commands for showing the differences between files (diff, cmp, etc.)";
   };
 }
+
+//
+
+{
+  crossAttrs =
+    # XXX: Temporary workaround to allow GNU/Hurd builds with newer libcs.
+    (stdenv.lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.cross.config == "i586-pc-gnu") {
+      patches = [ ../../misc/coreutils/gets-undeclared.patch ];
+    });
+})