diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/nlopt/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/nlopt/default.nix
index 279c8a0fd054..2fae17a23236 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/nlopt/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/nlopt/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ lib, stdenv, fetchFromGitHub, cmake, octave ? null }:
+{ lib, stdenv, fetchFromGitHub, cmake, octave ? null, libiconv }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "nlopt";
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "sha256-TgieCX7yUdTAEblzXY/gCN0r6F9TVDh4RdNDjQdXZ1o=";
   };
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ] ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ libiconv ];
   buildInputs = [ octave ];
 
   configureFlags = [