diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/helix/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/helix/default.nix
index fb1abcd6cffe..cb948b99065d 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/helix/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/helix/default.nix
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ rustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ makeWrapper ];
 
   postInstall = ''
+    # not needed at runtime
+    rm -r runtime/grammars/sources
+
     mkdir -p $out/lib
     cp -r runtime $out/lib
   '';