diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/zlib/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/zlib/default.nix
index d7f8229e17a9..72b0fcc207f7 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/zlib/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/zlib/default.nix
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
   static ? true,
   # If true, a separate .static output is created and the .a is moved there.
   # If false, and if `{ static = true; }`, the .a stays in the main output.
-  splitStaticOutput ? shared && static && !stdenv.hostPlatform.isWindows,
+  splitStaticOutput ?
+    shared && static && !(stdenv.hostPlatform.isWindows || stdenv.hostPlatform.isCygwin),
   testers,
   minizip,
 }: