diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/notmuch/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/notmuch/default.nix
index 743f8eaa9f20..643f2066678d 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/notmuch/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/notmuch/default.nix
@@ -102,10 +102,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   checkTarget = "test";
   nativeCheckInputs = [
     which dtach openssl bash
-    gdb man emacs
+    gdb man
   ]
   # for the test T-850.sh for notmuch-git, which is skipped when notmuch is
   # built without sexp-support
+  ++ lib.optional withEmacs emacs
   ++ lib.optional withSfsexp git;
 
   installTargets = [ "install" "install-man" "install-info" ];