diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
index 44e0b1d77b2d..5ff9a8be7723 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
@@ -315,9 +315,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ((drvAttrs config stdenv.hostPlatform.linux-kernel kernelPat
       ++ optional  (lib.versionAtLeast version "4.14" && lib.versionOlder version "5.8") libelf
       # Removed util-linuxMinimal since it should not be a dependency.
       ++ optionals (lib.versionAtLeast version "4.16") [ bison flex ]
-      ++ optionals (lib.versionAtLeast version "5.2")  [ cpio pahole ]
+      ++ optionals (lib.versionAtLeast version "5.2")  [ cpio pahole zlib ]
       ++ optional  (lib.versionAtLeast version "5.8")  elfutils
-      ++ optional (lib.versionAtLeast version "5.2") zlib
       ;
 
   hardeningDisable = [ "bindnow" "format" "fortify" "stackprotector" "pic" "pie" ];