diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libao/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libao/default.nix
index f7261e117389..d3cb1283331b 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libao/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libao/default.nix
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   buildInputs =
     [ pkgconfig ] ++
-    lib.optional stdenv.isLinux (if usePulseAudio then libpulseaudio else alsaLib) ++
+    lib.optional usePulseAudio libpulseaudio ++
+    lib.optional stdenv.isLinux alsaLib ++
     lib.optional stdenv.isLinux libcap ++
     lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ CoreAudio CoreServices AudioUnit ];
 
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 4655c98c2e1a..d3cebc7a60b7 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -8198,7 +8198,7 @@ with pkgs;
   libagar_test = callPackage ../development/libraries/libagar/libagar_test.nix { };
 
   libao = callPackage ../development/libraries/libao {
-    usePulseAudio = config.pulseaudio or true;
+    usePulseAudio = config.pulseaudio or stdenv.isLinux;
     inherit (darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks) CoreAudio CoreServices AudioUnit;
   };