diff --git a/srcpkgs/gobject-introspection/template b/srcpkgs/gobject-introspection/template
index 4a8810a9523..d39c7710cd4 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/gobject-introspection/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/gobject-introspection/template
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ pkgname=gobject-introspection
 version=1.80.1
 revision=2
 build_style=meson
+build_helper="qemu"
 pycompile_dirs="usr/lib/gobject-introspection/giscanner"
 hostmakedepends="flex pkg-config"
 # won't run tests with cairo to avoid cyclical deps
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ checksum=a1df7c424e15bda1ab639c00e9051b9adf5cea1a9e512f8a603b53cd199bc6d8
 python_version=3
 
 if [ "$CROSS_BUILD" ]; then
-	hostmakedepends+=" gobject-introspection qemu-user prelink-cross"
+	hostmakedepends+=" gobject-introspection prelink-cross"
 	configure_args+=" -Dgi_cross_use_prebuilt_gi=true
 	 -Dgi_cross_binary_wrapper=/usr/bin/g-ir-scanner-qemuwrapper
 	 -Dgi_cross_ldd_wrapper=/usr/bin/g-ir-scanner-lddwrapper