diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
index 527a82aa4693..7f8ac548653e 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
@@ -131,6 +131,12 @@ self:
       # upstream issue: missing file header
       jsfmt = markBroken super.jsfmt;
 
+      kubernetes = super.kubernetes.overrideAttrs (attrs: {
+        # searches for Git at build time
+        nativeBuildInputs =
+          (attrs.nativeBuildInputs or []) ++ [ external.git ];
+      });
+
       # upstream issue: missing file header
       maxframe = markBroken super.maxframe;