diff --git a/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/unstable.nix b/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/unstable.nix
index f61b9eb818a..b81ab7cad42 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/unstable.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/unstable.nix
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [ perl pkgconfig ];
 
-  buildInputs = [ curl openssl boehmgc sqlite ];
+  buildInputs = [ curl openssl sqlite ];
+
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ boehmgc ];
 
   # Note: bzip2 is not passed as a build input, because the unpack phase
   # would end up using the wrong bzip2 when cross-compiling.