diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/pforth/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/pforth/default.nix
index 59994b26aeed5..d0766fe13768d 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/pforth/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/pforth/default.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 { lib
 , stdenv
 , fetchFromGitHub
+, buildPackages
 }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
@@ -14,14 +15,26 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     hash = "sha256-vEjFeHSJl+yAtatYJEnu+r9hmOr/kZOgIbSUXR/c8WU=";
   };
 
-  dontConfigure = true;
-
-  preBuild = ''
-    cd platforms/unix
+  # We build the dictionary in a cross-compile compatible way.
+  # For that, we perform steps, that the Makefile would otherwise do.
+  buildPhase = ''
+    runHook preBuild
+    make -C platforms/unix pfdicapp
+    pushd fth/
+    ${stdenv.hostPlatform.emulator buildPackages} ../platforms/unix/pforth -i system.fth
+    ${stdenv.hostPlatform.emulator buildPackages} ../platforms/unix/pforth -d pforth.dic <<< "include savedicd.fth sdad bye"
+    mv pforth.dic pfdicdat.h ../platforms/unix/
+    popd
+    make -C platforms/unix pforthapp
+    runHook postBuild
   '';
 
   installPhase = ''
-    install -Dm755 pforth_standalone $out/bin/pforth
+    runHook preInstall
+    install -Dm755 platforms/unix/pforth_standalone $out/bin/pforth
+    mkdir -p $out/share/pforth
+    cp -r fth/* $out/share/pforth/
+    runHook postInstall
   '';
 
   meta = {