diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/visual-c++/builder.sh b/pkgs/development/compilers/visual-c++/builder.sh
index fe90f77c23ef..eb1cfd41b930 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/visual-c++/builder.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/visual-c++/builder.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ source $stdenv/setup
 
 ensureDir $out
 cat > $out/setup  <<EOF
-export PATH="$vs8Path/VC/bin:$vs8Path/Common7/IDE:$sdkPath/bin:$PATH"
+export PATH="$vs8Path/VC/bin:$vs8Path/Common7/IDE:$sdkPath/bin:\$PATH"
 export LIB="$(cygpath -w -p "$vs8Path/VC/lib:$sdkPath/lib")"
 export INCLUDE="$(cygpath -w -p "$sdkPath/include:$sdkPath/include/crt")"
 EOF