diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/avahi/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/avahi/default.nix
index f276d0bf12ee..b7f682990afb 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/avahi/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/avahi/default.nix
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     # autoipd won't build on darwin
     ++ stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin "--disable-autoipd";
 
+  NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-DAVAHI_SERVICE_DIR=\"/etc/avahi/services\"";
+
   preBuild = stdenv.lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin ''
     sed -i '20 i\
     #define __APPLE_USE_RFC_2292' \