diff --git a/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/common.nix b/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/common.nix
index f235849a9934..842ef5de3285 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/common.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/common.nix
@@ -168,7 +168,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
 
   makeFlags = [
     "profiledir=$(out)/etc/profile.d"
-  ] ++ lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform) "PRECOMPILE_HEADERS=0";
+  ] ++ lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform) "PRECOMPILE_HEADERS=0"
+    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin) "PRECOMPILE_HEADERS=1";
 
   installFlags = [ "sysconfdir=$(out)/etc" ];