diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/biology/bwa/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/biology/bwa/default.nix
index a2a11b1d4517..d4727b41bd0e 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/biology/bwa/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/biology/bwa/default.nix
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sed -i '/^CC/d' Makefile
   '';
 
+  makeFlags = lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic "AR=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}ar";
+
   # it's unclear which headers are intended to be part of the public interface
   # so we may find ourselves having to add more here over time
   installPhase = ''