diff --git a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
index 089bd299c781..f478d50de16e 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
@@ -70,9 +70,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     pkg-config flex bison dtc meson ninja
 
     # Don't change this to python3 and python3.pkgs.*, breaks cross-compilation
-    python3Packages.python python3Packages.sphinx python3Packages.sphinx-rtd-theme
+    python3Packages.python
   ]
     ++ lib.optionals gtkSupport [ wrapGAppsHook3 ]
+    ++ lib.optionals enableDocs [ python3Packages.sphinx python3Packages.sphinx-rtd-theme ]
     ++ lib.optionals hexagonSupport [ glib ]
     ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ sigtool ];