diff --git a/nix-meson-build-support/common/meson.build b/nix-meson-build-support/common/meson.build
index df8b958c0..bb57ca941 100644
--- a/nix-meson-build-support/common/meson.build
+++ b/nix-meson-build-support/common/meson.build
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ add_project_arguments(
   language : 'cpp',
 )
 
+# GCC doesn't benefit much from precompiled headers.
+do_pch = cxx.get_id() == 'clang'
+
 # This is a clang-only option for improving build times.
 # It forces the instantiation of templates in the PCH itself and
 # not every translation unit it's included in.
diff --git a/src/libcmd/meson.build b/src/libcmd/meson.build
index 5c3dd91ee..0cb41b46f 100644
--- a/src/libcmd/meson.build
+++ b/src/libcmd/meson.build
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ this_library = library(
   link_args: linker_export_flags,
   prelink : true, # For C++ static initializers
   install : true,
-  cpp_pch : ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh']
+  cpp_pch : do_pch ? ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh'] : []
 )
 
 install_headers(headers, subdir : 'nix/cmd', preserve_path : true)
diff --git a/src/libexpr/meson.build b/src/libexpr/meson.build
index fe795a607..9c8569293 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/meson.build
+++ b/src/libexpr/meson.build
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ this_library = library(
   link_args: linker_export_flags,
   prelink : true, # For C++ static initializers
   install : true,
-  cpp_pch : ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh']
+  cpp_pch : do_pch ? ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh'] : []
 )
 
 install_headers(headers, subdir : 'nix/expr', preserve_path : true)
diff --git a/src/libstore/meson.build b/src/libstore/meson.build
index c243f19c9..708188178 100644
--- a/src/libstore/meson.build
+++ b/src/libstore/meson.build
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ this_library = library(
   link_args: linker_export_flags,
   prelink : true, # For C++ static initializers
   install : true,
-  cpp_pch : ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh']
+  cpp_pch : do_pch ? ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh'] : []
 )
 
 install_headers(headers, subdir : 'nix/store', preserve_path : true)
diff --git a/src/libutil/meson.build b/src/libutil/meson.build
index ced9c424d..881a8674c 100644
--- a/src/libutil/meson.build
+++ b/src/libutil/meson.build
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ this_library = library(
   link_args: linker_export_flags,
   prelink : true, # For C++ static initializers
   install : true,
-  cpp_pch : 'pch/precompiled-headers.hh'
+  cpp_pch : do_pch ? ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh'] : []
 )
 
 install_headers(headers, subdir : 'nix/util', preserve_path : true)
diff --git a/src/nix/meson.build b/src/nix/meson.build
index 586ee15c3..23b876690 100644
--- a/src/nix/meson.build
+++ b/src/nix/meson.build
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ this_exe = executable(
   include_directories : include_dirs,
   link_args: linker_export_flags,
   install : true,
-  cpp_pch : ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh']
+  cpp_pch : do_pch ? ['pch/precompiled-headers.hh'] : []
 )
 
 meson.override_find_program('nix', this_exe)