diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gtk-doc/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gtk-doc/package.py
index 9b35b9de3a5..1cb992b3a52 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gtk-doc/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gtk-doc/package.py
@@ -59,3 +59,9 @@ def url_for_version(self, version):
         """Handle gnome's version-based custom URLs."""
         url = 'https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk-doc/-/archive/GTK_DOC_{0}/gtk-doc-GTK_DOC_{0}.tar.gz'
         return url.format(version.underscored)
+
+    def configure_args(self):
+        args = [
+            '--with-xml-catalog={0}'.format(self.spec['docbook-xml'].package.catalog)
+        ]
+        return args