diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libevent/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libevent/default.nix
index bd5edec68a06..782d86f1f581 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libevent/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libevent/default.nix
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     })
   ];
 
+  configureFlags = lib.optional (!sslSupport) "--disable-openssl";
+
   preConfigure = lib.optionalString (lib.versionAtLeast stdenv.hostPlatform.darwinMinVersion "11") ''
     MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=10.16
   '';