diff --git a/pkgs/tools/system/tree/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/system/tree/default.nix
index d798c98679c5c..a69a527f68fd7 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/system/tree/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/system/tree/default.nix
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
       prefix=$out
       MANDIR=$out/share/man/man1
       ${systemFlags}
-      CC="cc"
+      CC="$CC"
     )
   '';