diff --git a/guix/build/cargo-build-system.scm b/guix/build/cargo-build-system.scm
index 70ddf063d2..48c5f9d4bf 100644
--- a/guix/build/cargo-build-system.scm
+++ b/guix/build/cargo-build-system.scm
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ (define* (configure #:key inputs
 
   (setenv "LIBGIT2_SYS_USE_PKG_CONFIG" "1")
   (setenv "LIBSSH2_SYS_USE_PKG_CONFIG" "1")
+  (setenv "ZSTD_SYS_USE_PKG_CONFIG" "1")
   (when (assoc-ref inputs "openssl")
     (setenv "OPENSSL_DIR" (assoc-ref inputs "openssl")))
   (when (assoc-ref inputs "gettext")