diff --git a/pkgs/tools/networking/jwhois/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/networking/jwhois/default.nix
index 1d7932c7ad38..cd0821ef9ef5 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/networking/jwhois/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/networking/jwhois/default.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
 
   patches = [ ./connect.patch ./service-name.patch ];
 
+  makeFlags = [ "AR=${stdenv.cc.bintools.targetPrefix}ar" ];
+
   meta = {
     description = "A client for the WHOIS protocol allowing you to query the owner of a domain name";
     homepage = http://www.gnu.org/software/jwhois/;