diff --git a/guix/utils.scm b/guix/utils.scm
index a591b62f30..0df46f1062 100644
--- a/guix/utils.scm
+++ b/guix/utils.scm
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@
             target-64bit?
             cc-for-target
             cxx-for-target
+            pkg-config-for-target
 
             version-compare
             version>?
@@ -548,6 +549,11 @@ a character other than '@'."
       (string-append target "-g++")
       "g++"))
 
+(define* (pkg-config-for-target #:optional (target (%current-target-system)))
+  (if target
+      (string-append target "-pkg-config")
+      "pkg-config"))
+
 (define version-compare
   (let ((strverscmp
          (let ((sym (or (dynamic-func "strverscmp" (dynamic-link))