diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/co/coin3d/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/co/coin3d/package.nix
index c5faea3690d1..e6631df9b49d 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/co/coin3d/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/co/coin3d/package.nix
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
   libGL,
   libGLU,
   libx11,
+  expat,
 }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
@@ -26,9 +27,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     boost
     libGL
     libGLU
+    expat
   ]
   ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux libx11;
 
+  cmakeFlags = [
+    (lib.cmakeBool "USE_EXTERNAL_EXPAT" true)
+  ];
+
   meta = {
     homepage = "https://github.com/coin3d/coin";
     description = "High-level, retained-mode toolkit for effective 3D graphics development";