diff --git a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
index f5cd661fbec..a1068714161 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 , seccompSupport ? stdenv.isLinux, libseccomp
 , pulseSupport ? !stdenv.isDarwin, libpulseaudio
 , sdlSupport ? !stdenv.isDarwin, SDL2
-, gtkSupport ? !xenSupport, gtk3, gettext, gnome3
+, gtkSupport ? !stdenv.isDarwin && !xenSupport, gtk3, gettext, gnome3
 , vncSupport ? true, libjpeg, libpng
 , spiceSupport ? !stdenv.isDarwin, spice, spice-protocol
 , usbredirSupport ? spiceSupport, usbredir
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       "--sysconfdir=/etc"
       "--localstatedir=/var"
     ]
+    # disable sysctl check on darwin.
+    ++ optional stdenv.isDarwin "--cpu=x86_64"
     ++ optional numaSupport "--enable-numa"
     ++ optional seccompSupport "--enable-seccomp"
     ++ optional spiceSupport "--enable-spice"