diff --git a/pkgs/distro-build/drive-clients.rkt b/pkgs/distro-build/drive-clients.rkt
index f7fab0e68e..37b6507d19 100644
--- a/pkgs/distro-build/drive-clients.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/distro-build/drive-clients.rkt
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@
    (sh "cd " (q dir) " ; "
        "make -j " j " client"
        (client-args c server 'unix)
-       " CONFIGURE_ARGS_qq=" (qq (get-opt c '#:configure null)))))
+       " CONFIGURE_ARGS_qq=" (qq (get-opt c '#:configure null) 'unix))))
 
 (define (windows-build c host port user server repo clean? pull?)
   (define dir (or (get-opt c '#:dir)