diff --git a/pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/texlive/bin.nix b/pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/texlive/bin.nix
index 64eb16cda082..94ed0b87362a 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/texlive/bin.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/texlive/bin.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch
+{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch, buildPackages
 , texlive
 , zlib, libiconv, libpng, libX11
 , freetype, gd, libXaw, icu, ghostscript, libXpm, libXmu, libXext
@@ -77,7 +77,13 @@ core = stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   outputs = [ "out" "doc" ];
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ pkg-config ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [
+    pkg-config
+  ] ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform) [
+    # configure: error: tangle was not found but is required when cross-compiling.
+    texlive.bin.core
+  ];
+
   buildInputs = [
     /*teckit*/ zziplib mpfr gmp
     pixman gd freetype libpng libpaper zlib
@@ -94,7 +100,10 @@ core = stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   '';
   configureScript = "../configure";
 
+  depsBuildBuild = [ buildPackages.stdenv.cc ];
+
   configureFlags = common.configureFlags
+    ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform) [ "BUILDCC=${buildPackages.stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}cc" ]
     ++ [ "--without-x" ] # disable xdvik and xpdfopen
     ++ map (what: "--disable-${what}") [
       "chktex"
@@ -113,7 +122,7 @@ core = stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   # TODO: perhaps improve texmf.cnf search locations
   postInstall = /* links format -> engine will be regenerated in texlive.combine */ ''
-    PATH="$out/bin:$PATH" ${texlinks}/bin/texlinks --cnffile "$out/share/texmf-dist/web2c/fmtutil.cnf" --unlink "$out/bin"
+    PATH="$out/bin:$PATH" ${buildPackages.texlive.bin.texlinks}/bin/texlinks --cnffile "$out/share/texmf-dist/web2c/fmtutil.cnf" --unlink "$out/bin"
   '' + /* a few texmf-dist files are useful; take the rest from pkgs */ ''
     mv "$out/share/texmf-dist/web2c/texmf.cnf" .
     rm -r "$out/share/texmf-dist"