diff --git a/pkgs/tools/X11/xvkbd/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/X11/xvkbd/default.nix
index 06824f882a4..6ccc8a24cae 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/X11/xvkbd/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/X11/xvkbd/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, imake, libXt, libXaw, libXtst, libXi, libXpm, xextproto, gccmakedep, Xaw3d }:
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, imake, libXt, libXaw, libXtst
+, libXi, libXpm, xextproto, gccmakedep, Xaw3d }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   name = "xvkbd-${version}";
@@ -8,12 +9,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "17csj6x5zm3g67izfwhagkal1rbqzpw09lqmmlyrjy3vzgfkf75q";
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ imake libXt libXaw libXtst xextproto libXi Xaw3d libXpm gccmakedep ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ imake gccmakedep ];
+  buildInputs = [ libXt libXaw libXtst xextproto libXi Xaw3d libXpm ];
   installTargets = [ "install" "install.man" ];
-  preBuild = ''
-    makeFlagsArray=( BINDIR=$out/bin XAPPLOADDIR=$out/etc/X11/app-defaults MANPATH=$out/man )
-  '';
-  configurePhase = '' xmkmf -a '';
+  makeFlags = [
+    "BINDIR=$(out)/bin"
+    "XAPPLOADDIR=$(out)/etc/X11/app-defaults"
+    "MANPATH=$(out)/man"
+  ];
 
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     description = "Virtual keyboard for X window system";