diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/SDL/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/SDL/default.nix
index 6acd0bf66d9b..75c3a63c0a33 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/SDL/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/SDL/default.nix
@@ -16,12 +16,13 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     sha256 = "0cp155296d6fy3w31jj481jxl9b43fkm01klyibnna8gsvqrvycl";
   };
   
-  propagatedBuildInputs = [x11 libXrandr];
-  
+  # Since `libpulse*.la' contain `-lgdbm', PulseAudio must be propagated.
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ x11 libXrandr ] ++
+    stdenv.lib.optional pulseaudioSupport pulseaudio;
+
   buildInputs = [ pkgconfig ] ++
     stdenv.lib.optional openglSupport mesa ++
-    stdenv.lib.optional alsaSupport alsaLib ++
-    stdenv.lib.optional pulseaudioSupport pulseaudio;
+    stdenv.lib.optional alsaSupport alsaLib;
 
   # XXX: By default, SDL wants to dlopen() PulseAudio, in which case
   # we must arrange to add it to its RPATH; however, `patchelf' seems
diff --git a/pkgs/servers/pulseaudio/default.nix b/pkgs/servers/pulseaudio/default.nix
index c99b8d608b63..73e63bebdc03 100644
--- a/pkgs/servers/pulseaudio/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/servers/pulseaudio/default.nix
@@ -10,8 +10,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "0lwd5rcppyvcvy9n2j074k5mydgqszfvw6fnsjlz46gkda9vgydq";
   };
 
+  # Since `libpulse*.la' contain `-lgdbm', it must be propagated.
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ gdbm ];
+
   buildInputs = [
-    pkgconfig gnum4 gdbm libtool glib dbus hal avahi gconf liboil
+    pkgconfig gnum4 libtool glib dbus hal avahi gconf liboil
     libsamplerate libsndfile speex alsaLib
     libX11 libICE libSM
     intltool gettext