diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/vala/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/vala/default.nix
index bce86ac5984..37867b6a36e 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/vala/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/vala/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{stdenv, fetchurl, yacc, flex, pkgconfig, glib, xz}:
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, yacc, flex, pkgconfig, glib, xz, libiconvOrEmpty }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "09i2s0dwmrk147ind2dx7nq845g12fp6fsjqrphhrr0dbi0zzgh3";
   };
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ yacc flex pkgconfig xz ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ yacc flex pkgconfig ];
 
-  buildInputs = [ glib ];
+  buildInputs = [ glib ] ++ libiconvOrEmpty;
 
   meta = {
     description = "Compiler for the GObject type system";