diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/qt/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/qt/package.py
index 08721e85c24..ce689892f8e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/qt/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/qt/package.py
@@ -222,6 +222,9 @@ def setup_run_environment(self, env):
 
     def setup_dependent_build_environment(self, env, dependent_spec):
         env.set('QTDIR', self.prefix)
+        # https://riverbankcomputing.com/pipermail/qscintilla/2015-January/001012.html
+        env.set('QMAKEFEATURES', join_path(
+            dependent_spec.stage.source_path, 'Qt4Qt5', 'features'))
 
     def setup_dependent_package(self, module, dependent_spec):
         module.qmake = Executable(join_path(self.spec.prefix.bin, 'qmake'))