diff --git a/gnu/packages/fontutils.scm b/gnu/packages/fontutils.scm
index dbce5beba8..234f11129a 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/fontutils.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/fontutils.scm
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
   #:use-module (gnu packages xorg)
   #:use-module (gnu packages tex)
   #:use-module ((guix licenses) #:prefix license:)
+  #:use-module (guix gexp)
   #:use-module (guix packages)
   #:use-module (guix download)
   #:use-module (guix svn-download)
@@ -347,6 +348,7 @@ Font Format (WOFF).")
         ("python" ,python-minimal)))    ;to avoid a cycle through tk
      (arguments
       `(#:configure-flags
+        ,#~
         (list "--disable-docs"
               "--with-cache-dir=/var/cache/fontconfig"
               ;; register the default fonts
@@ -400,7 +402,7 @@ high quality, anti-aliased and subpixel rendered text on a display.")
     (arguments
      (substitute-keyword-arguments (package-arguments fontconfig)
        ((#:configure-flags configure-flags)
-        `(delete "--disable-docs" ,configure-flags))
+        #~(delete "--disable-docs" #$configure-flags))
        ((#:phases phases '%standard-phases)
         `(modify-phases ,phases
            (add-after 'install 'move-man-sections