diff --git a/pkgs/tools/filesystems/mtools/UNUSED-darwin.patch b/pkgs/tools/filesystems/mtools/UNUSED-darwin.patch
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..46b790afd30a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/tools/filesystems/mtools/UNUSED-darwin.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+--- mtools/sysincludes.h.orig	2017-04-01 20:59:46.083196540 +0100
++++ mtools/sysincludes.h	2017-04-01 20:59:12.855030456 +0100
+@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
+ # define PACKED __attribute__ ((packed))
+ # if __GNUC__ == 2 && __GNUC_MINOR__ > 6 || __GNUC__ >= 3
+ /* gcc 2.6.3 doesn't have "unused" */		/* mool */
+-#  define UNUSED(x) x __attribute__ ((unused));x
++#  define UNUSED(x) x
+ #  define UNUSEDP __attribute__ ((unused))
+ # else
+ #  define UNUSED(x) x
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/filesystems/mtools/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/filesystems/mtools/default.nix
index 6b9631bfccfe..ff311b9fae2f 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/filesystems/mtools/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/filesystems/mtools/default.nix
@@ -8,12 +8,19 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "119gdfnsxc6hzicnsf718k0fxgy2q14pxn7557rc96aki20czsar";
   };
 
+  # Prevents errors such as "mainloop.c:89:15: error: expected ')'"
+  # Upstream issue https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/info-mtools/2014-02/msg00000.html
+  patches = stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin ./UNUSED-darwin.patch;
+
+  # fails to find X on darwin
+  configureFlags = stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin "--without-x";
+
   doCheck = true;
 
   meta = {
     homepage = http://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/;
     description = "Utilities to access MS-DOS disks";
-    platforms = stdenv.lib.platforms.gnu;  # arbitrary choice
+    platforms = stdenv.lib.platforms.gnu ++ stdenv.lib.platforms.darwin;
     maintainers = [ ];
   };
 }