diff --git a/pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/catdvi/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/catdvi/default.nix
index 924aa57ece99..1958a2f4c073 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/catdvi/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/catdvi/default.nix
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     })
   ];
 
+  # fix implicit-int compile error in test code used in configure script
+  postPatch = ''
+    sed -i 's/^main()/int main()/' configure
+  '';
+
   hardeningDisable = [ "format" ];
 
   outputs = [ "out" ] ++ lib.optional (with stdenv; buildPlatform.canExecute hostPlatform) "dev";