diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/pango/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/pango/default.nix
index b94a00b1b541..fbf3b0f34d40 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/pango/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/pango/default.nix
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "08aqis6j8nd1lb4f2h4h9d9kjvp54iwf8zvqzss0qn4v7nfcjyvx";
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ gobjectIntrospection ]
-    ++ stdenv.lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ gettext fontconfig ];
-
+  buildInputs = with stdenv.lib;
+    optional (!stdenv.isDarwin) gobjectIntrospection # build problems
+    ++ optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ gettext fontconfig ];
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgconfig ];
 
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 7e368d1820d1..c9336b254fcd 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -4564,7 +4564,9 @@ let
   };
   cairomm = callPackage ../development/libraries/cairomm { };
 
-  pango = callPackage ../development/libraries/pango { };
+  pango = callPackage ../development/libraries/pango (
+    lib.optionalAttrs stdenv.isDarwin { flex = flex_2_5_35; } # flex fails to build
+  );
   pangomm = callPackage ../development/libraries/pangomm { };
 
   pangox_compat = callPackage ../development/libraries/pangox-compat { };