diff --git a/pkgs/development/r-modules/default.nix b/pkgs/development/r-modules/default.nix
index 39937016776..96eb2364d3f 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/r-modules/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/r-modules/default.nix
@@ -1296,6 +1296,10 @@ let
       RGL_USE_NULL = "true";
     });
 
+    Rhdf5lib = old.Rhdf5lib.overrideDerivation (attrs: {
+      propagatedBuildInputs = attrs.propagatedBuildInputs ++ [ pkgs.hdf5.dev ];
+    });
+
     RNifti = old.RNifti.overrideDerivation (attrs: {
       patches = [ ./patches/RNifti.patch ];
     });