diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/harfbuzz/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/harfbuzz/default.nix
index d955526d22a..4fb024db0e1 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/harfbuzz/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/harfbuzz/default.nix
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "19cx5y2m20rp7z5j7mwqfb4ph2g8lrri69zim44x362y4w5gfly6";
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ pkgconfig glib freetype libintlOrEmpty ];
+  buildInputs = [ pkgconfig glib freetype ] ++ libintlOrEmpty;
 
   meta = {
     description = "An OpenType text shaping engine";