diff --git a/pkgs/tools/package-management/dpkg/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/package-management/dpkg/default.nix
index 33620bb51f17..a0a88e24a781 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/package-management/dpkg/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/package-management/dpkg/default.nix
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   '';
 
   buildInputs = [ perl zlib bzip2 xz ];
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ makeWrapper ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ makeWrapper perl ];
 
   postInstall =
     ''