diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
index b4ae85943914..7520db00851d 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
@@ -75,6 +75,12 @@ self:
         inherit (self.melpaPackages) ess ctable popup;
       };
 
+      evil-magit = super.evil-magit.overrideAttrs (attrs: {
+        # searches for Git at build time
+        nativeBuildInputs =
+          (attrs.nativeBuildInputs or []) ++ [ external.git ];
+      });
+
       # missing OCaml
       flycheck-ocaml = markBroken super.flycheck-ocaml;