diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/la/lammps-mpi/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/la/lammps-mpi/package.nix
index 79c0ebddfd0f..04ad2decc7a3 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/la/lammps-mpi/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/la/lammps-mpi/package.nix
@@ -6,8 +6,11 @@
 
 lib.lowPrio (
   lammps.override {
-    extraBuildInputs = [
+    extraNativeBuildInputs = [
       mpi
     ];
+    extraCmakeFlags = {
+      BUILD_MPI = "ON";
+    };
   }
 )