diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libssh/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libssh/default.nix
index 464aeb817cc71..504cc76269ce5 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libssh/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libssh/default.nix
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sed -i 's,nacl/,sodium/,g' ./include/libssh/curve25519.h src/curve25519.c
   '';
 
+  # Don’t build examples, which are not installed and require additional dependencies not
+  # included in `buildInputs` such as libX11.
+  cmakeFlags = [ "-DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF" ];
+
   # single output, otherwise cmake and .pc files point to the wrong directory
   # outputs = [ "out" "dev" ];