diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libelf/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libelf/default.nix
index 6d894da17d0e..65c34b854f8e 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libelf/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libelf/default.nix
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   doCheck = true;
 
+  preConfigure = lib.optionalString (stdenv.hostPlatform.useAndroidPrebuilt) ''
+    sed -i 's|DISTSUBDIRS = lib po|DISTSUBDIRS = lib|g' Makefile.in
+    sed -i 's|SUBDIRS = lib @POSUB@|SUBDIRS = lib|g' Makefile.in
+  '';
+
   configureFlags = []
        # Configure check for dynamic lib support is broken, see
        # http://lists.uclibc.org/pipermail/uclibc-cvs/2005-August/019383.html