diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/gt/gtest/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/gt/gtest/package.nix
index fec50046d186..6d5ac7129a2c 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/gt/gtest/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/gt/gtest/package.nix
@@ -50,8 +50,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     cmake
     ninja
-  ]
-  ++ lib.optionals withAbseil [
+  ];
+
+  buildInputs = lib.optionals withAbseil [
     abseil-cpp
     re2
   ];