diff --git a/gnu/packages/commencement.scm b/gnu/packages/commencement.scm
index b022a0d634..6a382c7517 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/commencement.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/commencement.scm
@@ -2402,7 +2402,7 @@ (define gnu-make-final
   ;; PKG-CONFIG.
   ;; TODO: Fix that on the next rebuild cycle.
   (let ((pkg-config (package
-                      (inherit pkg-config)
+                      (inherit %pkg-config)       ;the native pkg-config
                       (inputs `(("guile" ,guile-final)
                                 ,@(%boot5-inputs)))
                       (arguments
diff --git a/tests/guix-build.sh b/tests/guix-build.sh
index 37666ffd01..52feda9d3a 100644
--- a/tests/guix-build.sh
+++ b/tests/guix-build.sh
@@ -226,6 +226,10 @@ rmdir "$result"
 # Cross building.
 guix build coreutils --target=mips64el-linux-gnu --dry-run --no-substitutes
 
+# Likewise, but with '-e' (see <https://bugs.gnu.org/38093>).
+guix build --target=arm-linux-gnueabihf --dry-run \
+     -e '(@ (gnu packages base) coreutils)'
+
 # Replacements.
 drv1=`guix build guix --with-input=guile@2.0=guile@2.2 -d`
 drv2=`guix build guix -d`