diff --git a/gnu/packages/rust.scm b/gnu/packages/rust.scm
index cc33a0d3b9..40633854ae 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/rust.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/rust.scm
@@ -574,6 +574,7 @@ (define-public rust-1.20
 llvm-config = \"" llvm "/bin/llvm-config" "\"
 cc = \"" gcc "/bin/gcc" "\"
 cxx = \"" gcc "/bin/g++" "\"
+ar = \"" binutils "/bin/ar" "\"
 jemalloc = \"" jemalloc "/lib/libjemalloc_pic.a" "\"
 [dist]
 ") port)))