diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/man-db/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/man-db/default.nix
index df1a2daddb91..a8fb7eea97c4 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/man-db/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/man-db/default.nix
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "--with-config-file=${placeholder "out"}/etc/man_db.conf"
     "--with-systemdtmpfilesdir=${placeholder "out"}/lib/tmpfiles.d"
     "--with-systemdsystemunitdir=${placeholder "out"}/lib/systemd/system"
+    "--with-pager=less"
   ] ++ stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin [
     "ac_cv_func__set_invalid_parameter_handler=no"
     "ac_cv_func_posix_fadvise=no"