diff --git a/pkgs/tools/text/highlight/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/text/highlight/default.nix
index f44ddc9d0e91..4dafc7688883 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/text/highlight/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/text/highlight/default.nix
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ let
 
     buildInputs = [ getopt lua boost ];
 
-    prePatch = lib.optionalString stdenv.cc.isClang ''
+    prePatch = ''
+      substituteInPlace src/makefile \
+        --replace "shell pkg-config" "shell $PKG_CONFIG"
+    '' + lib.optionalString stdenv.cc.isClang ''
       substituteInPlace src/makefile \
           --replace 'CXX=g++' 'CXX=clang++'
     '';