diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/mpfr/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/mpfr/default.nix
index d24431e59fe6..555351bddc35 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/mpfr/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/mpfr/default.nix
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "0sqvpfkzamxdr87anzakf9dhkfh15lfmm5bsqajk02h1mxh3zivr";
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ gmp ];
+  # mpfr.h requires gmp.h
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ gmp ];
 
   CFLAGS = "-I${gmp}/include";
   LDFLAGS = if stdenv.isDarwin then "-L${gmp}/lib" else null;