diff --git a/pkgs/games/steam/chrootenv.nix b/pkgs/games/steam/chrootenv.nix
index 8832f3bbc18..d7a96210429 100644
--- a/pkgs/games/steam/chrootenv.nix
+++ b/pkgs/games/steam/chrootenv.nix
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ in buildFHSUserEnv rec {
 
     # friends options won't display "Launch Game" without it
     lsof
+
+    # called by steam's setup.sh
+    file
   ] ++ (if (!nativeOnly) then [
     (steamPackages.steam-runtime-wrapped.override {
       inherit runtimeOnly;