diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/poppler/0.18.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/poppler/0.18.nix
index 3297b0a19e64..29e99b675491 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/poppler/0.18.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/poppler/0.18.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 { fetchurl, stdenv, cairo, freetype, fontconfig, zlib
 , libjpeg, curl, libpthreadstubs, xorg, openjpeg
-, libxml2, pkgconfig, cmake, lcms2
+, libxml2, pkgconfig, cmake, lcms2, libiconvOrEmpty
 , glibSupport ? false, glib, gtk3Support ? false, gtk3 # gtk2 no longer accepted
 , qt4Support ? false, qt4 ? null
 }:
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ++ stdenv.lib.optional gtk3Support gtk3
     ++ stdenv.lib.optional qt4Support qt4;
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgconfig cmake ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgconfig cmake ] ++ libiconvOrEmpty;
 
   cmakeFlags = "-DENABLE_XPDF_HEADERS=ON -DENABLE_LIBCURL=ON -DENABLE_ZLIB=ON";
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/poppler/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/poppler/default.nix
index 2807b2988560..8e168c2f4114 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/poppler/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/poppler/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchgit, pkgconfig, cmake
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchgit, pkgconfig, cmake, libiconvOrEmpty
 , zlib, curl, cairo, freetype, fontconfig, lcms2, libjpeg, openjpeg
 , qt4Support ? false, qt4 ? null
 }:
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ let
 
     propagatedBuildInputs = [ zlib cairo freetype fontconfig libjpeg lcms2 curl openjpeg ];
 
-    nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgconfig cmake ];
+    nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgconfig cmake ] ++ libiconvOrEmpty;
 
     cmakeFlags = "-DENABLE_XPDF_HEADERS=ON -DENABLE_LIBCURL=ON -DENABLE_ZLIB=ON";