diff --git a/pkgs/servers/news/leafnode/default.nix b/pkgs/servers/news/leafnode/default.nix
index 23f236a9a34e..a3579aa83099 100644
--- a/pkgs/servers/news/leafnode/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/servers/news/leafnode/default.nix
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   configureFlags = "--enable-runas-user=nobody";
 
+  preConfigure = ''
+    # configure uses id to check environment; we don't want this check
+    sed -re 's/^ID[=].*/ID="echo whatever"/' -i configure
+  '';
+
   postConfigure = ''
       # The is_validfqdn is far too restrictive, and only allows
       # Internet-facing servers to run.  In order to run leafnode via
@@ -24,6 +29,5 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     description = "Leafnode implements a store & forward NNTP proxy";
     license = stdenv.lib.licenses.mit;
     platforms = stdenv.lib.platforms.unix;
-    broken = true; # The user check in the configure does not work in a chroot
   };
 }