diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix b/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
index 1cc05167cee8..af43da0ca26d 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
@@ -272,8 +272,8 @@ let
           if stdenv.isLinux
           then makeMuslParsedPlatform stdenv.hostPlatform.parsed
           else stdenv.hostPlatform.parsed;
-      } // lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.hostPlatform.system == "powerpc64-linux") {
-        gcc.abi = "elfv2";
+        gcc = lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.hostPlatform.system == "powerpc64-linux") { abi = "elfv2"; } //
+          stdenv.hostPlatform.gcc or {};
       };
     });
   };