diff --git a/pkgs/tools/filesystems/squashfs/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/filesystems/squashfs/default.nix
index 0b2d6ae9cd65..3be3865ccd07 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/filesystems/squashfs/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/filesystems/squashfs/default.nix
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   ] ++ lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin ./darwin.patch;
 
   strictDeps = true;
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ help2man which ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ which ]
+    # when cross-compiling help2man cannot run the cross-compiled binary
+    ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.hostPlatform == stdenv.buildPlatform) [ help2man ];
   buildInputs = [ zlib xz zstd lz4 lzo ];
 
   preBuild = ''