diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libunistring/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libunistring/default.nix
index ad6d9947355..5b9c8facdb1 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libunistring/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libunistring/default.nix
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   patches = stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin [ ./clang.patch ];
 
-  buildInputs = [ libiconv ];
+  propagatedBuildInputs = stdenv.lib.optional (!stdenv.isLinux) libiconv;
 
   configureFlags = [
     "--with-libiconv-prefix=${libiconv}"