diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/timidity/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/timidity/default.nix
index 85917ccf2d86..a624efc23759 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/timidity/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/timidity/default.nix
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ./configure-compat.patch
   ];
 
+  postPatch = ''
+    substituteInPlace configure \
+      --replace-fail "\$(pkg-config" "\$(\$PKG_CONFIG"
+  '';
+
   nativeBuildInputs = [ pkg-config ];
   buildInputs =
     [