diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/generic.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/generic.nix
index 90e60d59da0c..b28668e7b301 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/generic.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/generic.nix
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ let
     "--layout=${layout}"
     "variant=${variant}"
     "threading=${threading}"
-    "runtime-link=${runtime-link}"
+  ] ++ optional (link != "static") "runtime-link=${runtime-link}" ++ [
     "link=${link}"
     "${cflags}"
   ] ++ optional (variant == "release") "debug-symbols=off";