diff --git a/pkgs/tools/networking/mailutils/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/networking/mailutils/default.nix
index 74d4b61064bd..28868e853734 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/networking/mailutils/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/networking/mailutils/default.nix
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "--with-gsasl"
     "--with-mysql"
     "--with-path-sendmail=${system-sendmail}/bin/sendmail"
+    "--with-mail-rc=/etc/mail.rc"
   ];
 
   readmsg-tests = let