diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/feedreaders/rsstail/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/feedreaders/rsstail/default.nix
index cecad11a4f6323..40b5d82da4782a 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/feedreaders/rsstail/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/feedreaders/rsstail/default.nix
@@ -13,8 +13,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
 
   buildInputs = [ libmrss ] ++ lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin [ libiconv ];
 
-  postPatch = ''
-    substituteInPlace Makefile --replace -liconv_hook ""
+  postPatch = let
+    liconv = if stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin then "-liconv" else "";
+  in
+    ''
+    substituteInPlace Makefile --replace-fail -liconv_hook "${liconv}"
   '';
 
   makeFlags = [ "prefix=$(out)" ];