diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/websocat/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/websocat/default.nix
index 48983fc85e13..a276b13a59ca 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/websocat/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/websocat/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchFromGitHub, rustPlatform, Security
+{ stdenv, fetchFromGitHub, pkgconfig, openssl, rustPlatform, Security
 }:
 
 rustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
@@ -12,9 +12,11 @@ rustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
     sha256 = "1gf2snr12vnx2mhsrwkb5274r1pvdrf8m3bybrqbh8s9wd83nrh6";
   };
 
+  cargoBuildFlags = [ "--features=ssl" ];
   cargoSha256 = "1zqfvbihf8xwgh092n9wzm3mdgbv0n99gjsfk9przqj2vh7wfvh2";
 
-  buildInputs = stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin Security;
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgconfig ];
+  buildInputs = [ openssl ] ++ stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin Security;
 
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     description = "Command-line client for WebSockets (like netcat/socat)";