diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/mkshell/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/mkshell/default.nix
index e7552f434848..60a061e6c542 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/mkshell/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/mkshell/default.nix
@@ -52,4 +52,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     # Record all build inputs as runtime dependencies
     export >> $out
   '';
+
+  preferLocalBuild = true;
 } // rest)