diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/bibutils/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/bibutils/default.nix
index 66a518407025e..c454e8cfa1d8b 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/bibutils/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/bibutils/default.nix
@@ -18,13 +18,22 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       --replace '-Wl,-soname,$(SONAME)' ""
   '';
 
+  # the configure script is not generated by autoconf
+  # and do not recognize --build/--host cross compilation flags
+  configurePlatforms = [ ];
+
   configureFlags = [
     (if static then "--static" else "--dynamic")
     "--install-dir" "$(out)/bin"
     "--install-lib" "$(out)/lib"
   ];
+
   dontAddPrefix = true;
 
+  makeFlags = [
+    "CC:=$(CC)"
+  ];
+
   doCheck = true;
   checkTarget = "test";
   preCheck = lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin ''