diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/tk/generic.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/tk/generic.nix
index c3bab0b2f86..934bfa6a9e9 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/tk/generic.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/tk/generic.nix
@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     "--with-tcl=${tcl}/lib"
   ];
 
-  buildInputs = [ pkgconfig tcl libXft ]
+  buildInputs = [ pkgconfig ]
     ++ stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin fontconfig;
 
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ tcl libXft ];
+
   NIX_CFLAGS_LINK = if stdenv.isDarwin then "-lfontconfig" else null;
 
   inherit tcl;