diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/freetds/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/freetds/default.nix
index 547e9e813be1..3980c5b61b31 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/freetds/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/freetds/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl }:
+{ stdenv, fetchurl
+, odbcSupport ? false, unixODBC ? null }:
+
+assert odbcSupport -> unixODBC != null;
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation {
   name = "freetds-0.91";
@@ -8,6 +11,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     sha256 = "0r946axzxs0czsmr7283w7vmk5jx3jnxxc32d2ncxsrsh2yli0ba";
   };
 
+  buildInputs = stdenv.lib.optional odbcSupport [ unixODBC ];
+
+  configureFlags = stdenv.lib.optionalString odbcSupport "--with-odbc=${unixODBC}";
+
   doDist = true;
 
   distPhase = ''