diff --git a/third_party/nix/release-common.nix b/third_party/nix/release-common.nix
index 752525225..a364d223f 100644
--- a/third_party/nix/release-common.nix
+++ b/third_party/nix/release-common.nix
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ rec {
         */
       }));
 
+  nativeBuildDeps = [ meson ninja ];
+
   propagatedDeps =
     [ (boehmgc.override { enableLargeConfig = true; })
     ];