diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/coreutils/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/coreutils/default.nix
index bd0d1b928570..9f763115f9a9 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/coreutils/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/coreutils/default.nix
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ let
          touch -r src/stat.c src/tail.c
        '';
 
+    configureFlags = optionalString stdenv.isSunOS "ac_cv_func_inotify_init=no";
+
     nativeBuildInputs = [ perl ];
     buildInputs = [ gmp ]
       ++ optional aclSupport acl