diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/ncurses/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/ncurses/default.nix
index cb8333704ff124a..9c1c8b422a98a96 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/ncurses/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/ncurses/default.nix
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 , stdenv
 , fetchurl
 , buildPackages
+, ncurses
 , pkg-config
 , abiVersion ? "6"
 , enableStatic ? stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic
@@ -48,20 +49,20 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
         "/usr/share/terminfo" # upstream default, probably all FHS-based distros
         "/run/current-system/sw/share/terminfo" # NixOS
       ]}"
+  ] ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.buildPlatform != stdenv.hostPlatform) [
+    "--with-build-cc=${buildPackages.stdenv.cc}/bin/${buildPackages.stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}cc"
   ];
 
   # Only the C compiler, and explicitly not C++ compiler needs this flag on solaris:
   CFLAGS = lib.optionalString stdenv.isSunOS "-D_XOPEN_SOURCE_EXTENDED";
 
   strictDeps = true;
-  depsBuildBuild = [
-    buildPackages.stdenv.cc
-  ];
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     pkg-config
   ] ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.buildPlatform != stdenv.hostPlatform) [
-    buildPackages.ncurses
+   # for `tic`, build already depends on for build `cc` so it's weird the build doesn't just build `tic`.
+    ncurses
   ];
 
   buildInputs = lib.optional (mouseSupport && stdenv.isLinux) gpm;