diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/wa/wayland-bongocat/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/wa/wayland-bongocat/package.nix
index a6135aab6dd2..da5455bd2fed 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/wa/wayland-bongocat/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/wa/wayland-bongocat/package.nix
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     "release"
   ];
 
+  postPatch = ''
+    substituteInPlace Makefile \
+      --replace-fail 'CC = gcc' 'CC ?= gcc'
+  '';
+
   installPhase = ''
     runHook preInstall