diff --git a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
index 11ed035919..4e5e8cdbfd 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
@@ -2431,6 +2431,7 @@ (define-public vte/gtk+-2
               (patches (search-patches
                          "vte-CVE-2012-2738-pt1.patch"
                          "vte-CVE-2012-2738-pt2.patch"))))
+    (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      '(#:configure-flags '("--disable-python")))
     (native-inputs