diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/notmuch/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/notmuch/default.nix
index a5af880728a1..43e04ed8a396 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/notmuch/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/notmuch/default.nix
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "1szf6c44g209pcjq5nvfhlp3nzcm3lrcwv4spsxmwy13hiaccvrr";
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ bash emacs gdb glib gmime gnupg pkgconfig talloc xapian sphinx python ]
-    ++ stdenv.lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ fixDarwinDylibNames ];
+  buildInputs = [ bash emacs glib gmime gnupg pkgconfig talloc xapian sphinx python ]
+    ++ stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin fixDarwinDylibNames
+    ++ stdenv.lib.optional (!stdenv.isDarwin) gdb;
 
   patchPhase = ''
     find test -type f -exec \