diff --git a/srcpkgs/nettle/template b/srcpkgs/nettle/template
index 00eb27a6dc4..8b873617ffa 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/nettle/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/nettle/template
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ version=2.7.1
 reverts=3.0_1
 revision=4
 build_style=gnu-configure
+hostmakedepends="m4"
 makedepends="gmp-devel"
 configure_args="--enable-shared"
 short_desc="A low-level cryptographic library"