diff --git a/pkgs/applications/audio/ladspa-sdk/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/audio/ladspa-sdk/default.nix
index 47a36ed1b5df..8055683a3fcf 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/audio/ladspa-sdk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/audio/ladspa-sdk/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 { lib, stdenv, fetchurl }:
+
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "ladspa-sdk";
   version = "1.15";
@@ -7,12 +8,27 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "1vgx54cgsnc3ncl9qbgjbmq12c444xjafjkgr348h36j16draaa2";
   };
 
+  sourceRoot = "ladspa_sdk_${version}/src";
+
+  strictDeps = true;
+
   patchPhase = ''
-    cd src
     sed -i 's@/usr/@$(out)/@g'  Makefile
-    sed -i 's@-mkdirhier@mkdir -p@g'  Makefile
   '';
 
+  makeFlags = [
+    "CC=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}cc"
+    "CPP=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}c++"
+  ];
+
+  # The default target also runs tests, which we don't want to do in
+  # the build phase as it would break cross.
+  buildFlags = [ "targets" ];
+
+  # Tests try to create and play a sound file.  Playing will fail, but
+  # it's probably still useful to run the part that creates the file.
+  doCheck = true;
+
   meta = {
     description = "The SDK for the LADSPA audio plugin standard";
     longDescription = ''