diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libpcap/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libpcap/default.nix
index d9cb91e4fb3b..fcb599e00f57 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libpcap/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libpcap/default.nix
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   '';
 
   postInstall = ''
-    rm -f $out/lib/libpcap.a
+    if [ "$dontDisableStatic" -ne "1" ]; then
+      rm -f $out/lib/libpcap.a
+    fi
   '';
 
   meta = {
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/networking/dsniff/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/networking/dsniff/default.nix
index 4fe381cdd7a7..50de41b921c0 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/networking/dsniff/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/networking/dsniff/default.nix
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ let
   };
   pcap = symlinkJoin {
     inherit (libpcap) name;
-    paths = [ libpcap ];
+    paths = [ (libpcap.overrideAttrs(old: { dontDisableStatic = true; })) ];
     postBuild = ''
       cp -rs $out/include/pcap $out/include/net
       # prevent references to libpcap