diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/gavin-bc/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/gavin-bc/default.nix
index a5a7e64d27a7..ade42a7d0d3a 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/gavin-bc/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/gavin-bc/default.nix
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 { lib
 , stdenv
 , fetchFromGitea
+, editline
+, readline
+, historyType ? "internal"
+, predefinedBuildType ? "BSD"
 }:
 
+assert lib.elem historyType [ "editline" "readline" "internal" ];
+assert lib.elem predefinedBuildType [ "BSD" "GNU" "GDH" "DBG" ];
 stdenv.mkDerivation (self: {
   pname = "gavin-bc";
   version = "6.2.4";
@@ -15,6 +21,17 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (self: {
     hash = "sha256-KQheSyBbxh2ROOvwt/gqhJM+qWc+gDS/x4fD6QIYUWw=";
   };
 
+  buildInputs =
+    (lib.optional (historyType == "editline") editline)
+    ++ (lib.optional (historyType == "readline") readline);
+
+  configureFlags = [
+    "--disable-nls"
+    "--predefined-build-type=${historyType}"
+  ]
+  ++ (lib.optional (historyType == "editline") "--enable-editline")
+  ++ (lib.optional (historyType == "readline") "--enable-readline");
+
   meta = {
     homepage = "https://git.gavinhoward.com/gavin/bc";
     description = "Gavin Howard's BC calculator implementation";