diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/cygwin/cygwin-dll-link-hook/cygwin-dll-link.sh b/pkgs/os-specific/cygwin/cygwin-dll-link-hook/cygwin-dll-link.sh
index 371ba633edc8..2d2023d49a71 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/cygwin/cygwin-dll-link-hook/cygwin-dll-link.sh
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/cygwin/cygwin-dll-link-hook/cygwin-dll-link.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@ _linkDeps() {
   local dll
   _dllDeps "$target" | while read -r dll; do
     echo '  dll:' "$dll"
-    if [[ -e "$dir/$dll" ]]; then continue; fi
+    if [[ -L "$dir/$dll" || -e "$dir/$dll" ]]; then continue; fi
+    if [[ $dll = cygwin1.dll ]]; then
+      CYGWIN+=\ winsymlinks:nativestrict ln -sr /bin/cygwin1.dll "$dir"
+      continue
+    fi
     # Locate the DLL - it should be an *executable* file on $LINK_DLL_FOLDERS.
     local dllPath
     if ! dllPath="$(PATH="$(dirname "$target"):$LINK_DLL_FOLDERS" type -P "$dll")"; then
diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
index d66fbf71035e..4f5ee160dbcf 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
@@ -704,7 +704,6 @@ let
               allowedImpureDLLs
               ++ lib.optionals isCygwin [
                 "KERNEL32.dll"
-                "cygwin1.dll"
               ];
           }
           // (