diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/gspell/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/gspell/default.nix
index fa7eb93fe0c6..c4d15352020a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/gspell/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/gspell/default.nix
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   buildInputs = [
     gtk3
     icu
+    vala # for share/vala/Makefile.vapigen (PKG_CONFIG_VAPIGEN_VAPIGEN)
   ];
 
   propagatedBuildInputs = [
@@ -56,6 +57,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   configureFlags = [
     "GLIB_COMPILE_RESOURCES=${lib.getDev buildPackages.glib}/bin/glib-compile-resources"
     "GLIB_MKENUMS=${lib.getDev buildPackages.glib}/bin/glib-mkenums"
+    "PKG_CONFIG_VAPIGEN_VAPIGEN=${lib.getBin buildPackages.vala}/bin/vapigen"
+    "--enable-introspection=yes"
+    "--enable-vala=yes"
   ];
 
   passthru = {