diff --git a/lix/lix-base.pc.in b/lix/lix-base.pc.in
index 58c6223f5..3e8422770 100644
--- a/lix/lix-base.pc.in
+++ b/lix/lix-base.pc.in
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ libdir=@libdir@
 includedir=@includedir@
 
 Name: Lix base
-Description: Lix Package Manager (config.hh fixup)
+Description: Lix Package Manager (base include dir)
 Version: @PACKAGE_VERSION@
+Requires: kj-async
 Cflags: -I${includedir}
diff --git a/perl/default.nix b/perl/default.nix
index ed2584c7f..a4c49017c 100644
--- a/perl/default.nix
+++ b/perl/default.nix
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ perl.pkgs.toPerlModule (
         boost
         perlPackages.DBI
         perlPackages.DBDSQLite
+        # for kj-async
+        nix.passthru.capnproto-nix
       ]
       ++ lib.optional (stdenv.isLinux || stdenv.isDarwin) libsodium
       ++ lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks.Security;