diff --git a/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/default.nix
index 941e4cfec22c..a966b11382aa 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/default.nix
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 { stdenv, fetchzip, jam, unzip, libX11, libXxf86vm, libXrandr, libXinerama
 , libXrender, libXext, libtiff, libjpeg, libpng, libXScrnSaver, writeText
 , libXdmcp, libXau, lib, openssl
-, writeScript
+, buildPackages, substituteAll, writeScript
 }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
@@ -17,6 +17,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [ jam unzip ];
 
+  patches = lib.optional (!stdenv.buildPlatform.canExecute stdenv.hostPlatform) (
+    # Build process generates files by compiling and then invoking an executable.
+    substituteAll {
+      src = ./jam-cross.patch;
+      emulator = stdenv.hostPlatform.emulator buildPackages;
+    }
+  );
+
   postPatch = lib.optionalString (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform) ''
     substituteInPlace Jambase \
       --replace "-m64" ""
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/jam-cross.patch b/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/jam-cross.patch
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..86a51ed83110
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/tools/graphics/argyllcms/jam-cross.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+diff --git a/Jambase b/Jambase
+--- a/Jambase
++++ b/Jambase
+@@ -4247,7 +4247,7 @@
+
+ actions GenFileND1
+ {
+-	$(>)
++	@emulator@ $(>)
+ }
+
+ actions GenFileNND1
+@@ -4410,7 +4410,7 @@
+ 	actions GenFile1
+ 	{
+ 		PATH="$PATH:."
+-		$(>[1]) $(<) $(>[2-])
++		@emulator@ $(>[1]) $(<) $(>[2-])
+ 	}
+
+ 	actions CreateCatFile_
+