diff --git a/pkgs/servers/x11/xorg/overrides.nix b/pkgs/servers/x11/xorg/overrides.nix
index 85c199325508..5be23d391c81 100644
--- a/pkgs/servers/x11/xorg/overrides.nix
+++ b/pkgs/servers/x11/xorg/overrides.nix
@@ -89,8 +89,9 @@ in
   };
   
   libXft = attrs: attrs // {
-    buildInputs = attrs.buildInputs ++ [ xorg.xproto xorg.libX11
-        xorg.renderproto ];
+    buildInputs = attrs.buildInputs ++
+      [ xorg.xproto xorg.libX11 xorg.renderproto ];
+    propagatedBuildInputs = [ xorg.libXrender ];
     preConfigure = setMalloc0ReturnsNullCrossCompiling;
   };