diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ae/aerc/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/ae/aerc/package.nix
index 7fa713a762e6..14a25b37b414 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ae/aerc/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ae/aerc/package.nix
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   buildGoModule,
   fetchFromSourcehut,
   ncurses,
+  withNotmuch ? true,
   notmuch,
   scdoc,
   python3Packages,
@@ -50,14 +51,13 @@ buildGoModule rec {
 
   buildInputs = [
     python3Packages.python
-    notmuch
     gawk
-  ];
+  ] ++ lib.optional withNotmuch notmuch;
 
   installPhase = ''
     runHook preInstall
 
-    make $makeFlags GOFLAGS="$GOFLAGS -tags=notmuch" install
+    make $makeFlags GOFLAGS="$GOFLAGS${lib.optionalString withNotmuch " -tags=notmuch"}" install
 
     runHook postInstall
   '';