diff --git a/srcpkgs/harfbuzz/template b/srcpkgs/harfbuzz/template
index 894a1b7bf9..d5c501aa54 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/harfbuzz/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/harfbuzz/template
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ pkgname=harfbuzz
 version=3.3.1
 revision=1
 build_style=meson
-build_helper=gir
+build_helper="gir qemu"
 configure_args="-Dglib=enabled -Dfreetype=enabled -Dcairo=enabled -Dicu=enabled
  -Dgraphite=enabled -Dintrospection=enabled"
 hostmakedepends="glib-devel pkg-config gtk-doc"