diff --git a/pkgs/development/r-modules/default.nix b/pkgs/development/r-modules/default.nix
index e7005357f2bb..b8804d9edb64 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/r-modules/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/r-modules/default.nix
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ let
     rjags = [ pkgs.jags ];
     rJava = with pkgs; [ zlib bzip2.dev icu xz.dev pcre.dev jdk libzip ];
     Rlibeemd = [ pkgs.gsl ];
-    rmatio = [ pkgs.zlib.dev ];
+    rmatio = [ pkgs.zlib.dev pkgs.pkg-config ];
     Rmpfr = with pkgs; [ gmp mpfr.dev ];
     Rmpi = [ pkgs.mpi ];
     RMySQL = with pkgs; [ zlib libmysqlclient openssl.dev ];