diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
index e13b7266b02..ba32362b6e8 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   '';
 
   # perf refers both to newt and slang
-  buildInputs = [ elfutils python perl newt slang asciidoc xmlto
-    docbook_xsl docbook_xml_dtd_45 libxslt ];
+  buildNativeInputs = [ asciidoc xmlto docbook_xsl docbook_xml_dtd_45 libxslt ];
+  buildInputs = [ elfutils python perl newt slang ];
 
   installFlags = "install install-man ASCIIDOC8=1";