diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/atk/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/atk/default.nix
index 7961211dc63e..38c557316982 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/atk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/atk/default.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 { lib, stdenv, fetchurl, meson, ninja, gettext, pkg-config, glib
 , fixDarwinDylibNames, gobject-introspection, gnome
+, withIntrospection ? stdenv.buildPlatform == stdenv.hostPlatform
 }:
 
 let
@@ -17,8 +18,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   outputs = [ "out" "dev" ];
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ meson ninja pkg-config gettext gobject-introspection glib ]
-    ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin fixDarwinDylibNames;
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ meson ninja pkg-config gettext glib ]
+    ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin fixDarwinDylibNames
+    ++ lib.optional withIntrospection gobject-introspection;
 
   propagatedBuildInputs = [
     # Required by atk.pc
@@ -31,6 +33,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ./fix_pc.patch
   ];
 
+  mesonFlags = [
+    "-Dintrospection=${lib.boolToString withIntrospection}"
+  ];
+
   doCheck = true;
 
   passthru = {