diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libconfig/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libconfig/default.nix
index d94a0e1d78bd..5c06808f67c3 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libconfig/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libconfig/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl }:
+{ lib
+, stdenv
+, fetchurl
+, # this also disables building tests.
+  # on static windows cross-compile they fail to build
+  doCheck ? with stdenv.hostPlatform; !(isWindows && isStatic)
+}:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "libconfig";
@@ -9,15 +15,18 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "sha256-VFFm1srAN3RDgdHpzFpUBQlOe/rRakEWmbz/QLuzHuc=";
   };
 
-  doCheck = true;
+  inherit doCheck;
 
-  configureFlags = lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.isWindows || stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic) "--disable-examples";
+  configureFlags = lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform.isWindows || stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic) "--disable-examples"
+    ++ lib.optional (!doCheck) "--disable-tests";
+
+  cmakeFlags = lib.optionals (!doCheck) [ "-DBUILD_TESTS:BOOL=OFF" ];
 
   meta = with lib; {
     homepage = "http://www.hyperrealm.com/libconfig";
     description = "A simple library for processing structured configuration files";
     license = licenses.lgpl3;
     maintainers = [ maintainers.goibhniu ];
-    platforms = with platforms; linux ++ darwin ++ windows;
+    platforms = platforms.all;
   };
 }