diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/multitail/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/multitail/default.nix
index 805dbd3f17c2..96d3764abd46 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/multitail/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/multitail/default.nix
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
 
   buildInputs = [ ncurses ];
 
+  makeFlags = stdenv.lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin "-f makefile.macosx";
+
   installPhase = ''
     ensureDir $out/bin
     cp multitail $out/bin