diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/cscope/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/cscope/default.nix
index 1c6d1dacc7fd..2a9e77bd05bc 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/cscope/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/cscope/default.nix
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   configureFlags = "--with-ncurses=${ncurses}";
 
-  buildInputs = [ ncurses pkgconfig emacs ];
+  buildInputs = [ ncurses emacs ];
+  buildNativeInputs = [ pkgconfig ];
 
   postInstall = ''
     # Install Emacs mode.
@@ -31,6 +32,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     cp xcscope.el{,c} "$out/share/emacs/site-lisp"
   '';
 
+  crossAttrs = {
+    postInstall = "";
+    propagatedBuildInputs = [ ncurses.hostDrv ];
+  };
+
   meta = {
     description = "Cscope, a developer's tool for browsing source code";