diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/sd/SDL_mixer/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/sd/SDL_mixer/package.nix
index e42592d5bc58..bedfda42842a 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/sd/SDL_mixer/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/sd/SDL_mixer/package.nix
@@ -70,9 +70,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
   '';
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [
-    SDL
     pkg-config
-    smpeg
   ];
 
   buildInputs = [
@@ -84,6 +82,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     smpeg
   ];
 
+  # pass in correct *-config for cross builds
+  env.SDL_CONFIG = lib.getExe' SDL.dev "sdl-config";
+  env.SMPEG_CONFIG = lib.getExe' smpeg.dev "smpeg-config";
+
   configureFlags = [
     (lib.enableFeature false "music-ogg-shared")
     (lib.enableFeature false "music-mod-shared")