diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/gstreamer/core/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/gstreamer/core/default.nix
index 487f6659051e1..26a708546bb07 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/gstreamer/core/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/gstreamer/core/default.nix
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@
 , enableDocumentation ? stdenv.hostPlatform == stdenv.buildPlatform, hotdoc
 }:
 
+let
+  hasElfutils = lib.meta.availableOn stdenv.hostPlatform elfutils;
+in
 stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
   pname = "gstreamer";
   version = "1.24.7";
@@ -81,7 +84,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     bash-completion
   ] ++ lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux [
     libcap
-  ] ++ lib.optionals (lib.meta.availableOn stdenv.hostPlatform elfutils) [
+  ] ++ lib.optionals hasElfutils [
     elfutils
   ] ++ lib.optionals withLibunwind [
     libunwind
@@ -102,7 +105,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     (lib.mesonEnable "introspection" withIntrospection)
     (lib.mesonEnable "doc" enableDocumentation)
     (lib.mesonEnable "libunwind" withLibunwind)
-    (lib.mesonEnable "libdw" withLibunwind)
+    (lib.mesonEnable "libdw" (withLibunwind && hasElfutils))
   ];
 
   postPatch = ''