diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libftdi/1.x.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libftdi/1.x.nix
index d54b05b1c828..c6deb1fc9291 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libftdi/1.x.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libftdi/1.x.nix
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ++ optionals pythonSupport [ python swig ]
     ++ optionals docSupport [ doxygen ];
 
+  preBuild = stdenv.lib.optionalString docSupport ''
+    make doc_i
+  '';
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ libusb1 ];
 
   postInstall = ''