diff --git a/gnu/packages/gcc.scm b/gnu/packages/gcc.scm
index 3880cab52b5..c961c84fca1 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gcc.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gcc.scm
@@ -558,6 +558,13 @@ as the 'native-search-paths' field."
                  (string-append line " -Wl,-rpath=$(libdir)"))
                 (("libgcj(_bc)?_la_LDFLAGS =" ldflags _)
                  (string-append ldflags " -Wl,-rpath=$(libdir)")))))
+           (add-after
+            'unpack 'patch-testsuite
+            ;; dejagnu-1.6 removes the 'absolute' command
+            (lambda _
+              (substitute* "libjava/testsuite/lib/libjava.exp"
+                (("absolute") "file normalize"))
+              #t))
            (add-after
             'install 'install-javac-and-javap-wrappers
             (lambda _