diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/vacuum/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/vacuum/default.nix
index d7798273e7c6..b2f75275586b 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/vacuum/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/vacuum/default.nix
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     qt4 openssl xproto libX11 libXScrnSaver scrnsaverproto xz zlib
   ];
 
+  NIX_LDFLAGS = "-lz";
+
   configurePhase = ''
     qmake INSTALL_PREFIX=$out -recursive vacuum.pro
   '';