diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/darwin/default.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/darwin/default.nix
index 3f06dec10af..a040e6ab242 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/darwin/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/darwin/default.nix
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ in rec {
     export NIX_ENFORCE_NO_NATIVE=''${NIX_ENFORCE_NO_NATIVE-1}
     export NIX_ENFORCE_PURITY=''${NIX_ENFORCE_PURITY-1}
     export NIX_IGNORE_LD_THROUGH_GCC=1
-    export SDKROOT=
+    unset SDKROOT
 
     export MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=${macosVersionMin}