diff --git a/gnu/packages/gettext.scm b/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
index b6ea3a3f10..7edbfa023c 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
 ;;; along with GNU Guix.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 (define-module (gnu packages gettext)
-  #:use-module (guix licenses)
+  #:use-module ((guix licenses) #:select (gpl3))
   #:use-module (gnu packages)
   #:use-module (guix packages)
   #:use-module (guix download)
-  #:use-module (guix build-system gnu))
+  #:use-module (guix build-system gnu)
+  #:use-module (gnu packages xml))
 
 (define-public gettext
   (package
@@ -35,8 +36,16 @@
               (base32
                "0p940zmmw1lndvdhck2vrazikjhr02affwy47mmpfxqvacrrm3qd"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
+    (inputs
+     `(("expat" ,expat)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases (alist-cons-before
+                 'configure 'link-expat
+                 (lambda _
+                   (substitute* "gettext-tools/configure"
+                     (("LIBEXPAT=\"-ldl\"") "LIBEXPAT=\"-ldl -lexpat\"")
+                     (("LTLIBEXPAT=\"-ldl\"") "LTLIBEXPAT=\"-ldl -lexpat\"")))
+                (alist-cons-before
                  'check 'patch-tests
                  (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
                    (let ((bash (which "sh")))
@@ -48,7 +57,7 @@
                                               "posix_spawn")
                        (("/bin/sh")
                         bash))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+                 %standard-phases))))
     (home-page "http://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/")
     (synopsis "Tools and documentation for translation")
     (description