diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/ninja/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/ninja/default.nix
index cf6eee99e1d..b6f8e111f88 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/ninja/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/ninja/default.nix
@@ -24,5 +24,15 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     cp doc/manual.html $out/share/doc/ninja/
   '';
 
-  homepage = http://martine.github.io/ninja/;
+  meta = {
+    description = "Small build system with a focus on speed";
+    longDescription = ''
+      Ninja is a small build system with a focus on speed. It differs from
+      other build systems in two major respects: it is designed to have its
+      input files generated by a higher-level build system, and it is designed
+      to run builds as fast as possible.
+    '';
+    homepage = http://martine.github.io/ninja/;
+    license = stdenv.lib.licenses.asl20;
+  };
 }