diff --git a/gnu/packages/tcl.scm b/gnu/packages/tcl.scm
index c87a8187f2..91ba8bbb3f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/tcl.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/tcl.scm
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
   #:use-module (guix download)
   #:use-module (guix git-download)
   #:use-module (guix utils)
+  #:use-module (guix gexp)
   #:use-module (guix build-system gnu)
   #:use-module (guix build-system go)
   #:use-module (guix build-system perl)
@@ -232,7 +233,9 @@ X11 GUIs.")
        #:configure-flags
        ,#~
        (list (string-append "--with-tcl="
-                            (assoc-ref %build-inputs "tcl")
+                            #$(if (%current-target-system)
+                                  (this-package-input "tcl")
+                                  #~(assoc-ref %build-inputs "tcl"))
                             "/lib")
              ;; This is needed when cross-compiling, see:
              ;; https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=719247