diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/biology/samtools/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/biology/samtools/default.nix
index 98b0394c35f1..ec61e0bd7ce4 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/biology/samtools/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/biology/samtools/default.nix
@@ -22,8 +22,15 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   buildInputs = [ zlib ncurses htslib ];
 
+  preConfigure = lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic ''
+    export LIBS="-lz -lbz2 -llzma"
+  '';
+  makeFlags = lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic "AR=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}ar";
+
   configureFlags = [ "--with-htslib=${htslib}" ]
-    ++ lib.optional (ncurses == null) "--without-curses";
+    ++ lib.optional (ncurses == null) "--without-curses"
+    ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic ["--without-curses" ]
+    ;
 
   preCheck = ''
     patchShebangs test/