diff --git a/API_GUIDE.md b/API_GUIDE.md
index 8616b85..eaecd26 100644
--- a/API_GUIDE.md
+++ b/API_GUIDE.md
@@ -368,6 +368,9 @@ access packages.
 attribute set mapping variables to values. It can optionally be a function to
 such an attribute set in order to access packages.
 
+`devShell.stdenv` allows changing the stdenv used for the shell. It is a
+function that takes the package set and returns the stdenv to use.
+
 For example, these can be configured as follows:
 
 ```nix
@@ -386,6 +389,7 @@ For example, these can be configured as follows:
         '';
         # Set an environment var. `env` can be an be a function
         env.TEST_VAR = "test value";
+        stdenv = pkgs: pkgs.clangStdenv;
       };
     };
 }
diff --git a/builtinModules/devShells.nix b/builtinModules/devShells.nix
index a554d87..395590c 100644
--- a/builtinModules/devShells.nix
+++ b/builtinModules/devShells.nix
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ in
           (optFunctionTo (lazyAttrsOf str));
         default = null;
       };
+
+      stdenv = mkOption {
+        type = nullOr (functionTo package);
+        default = null;
+      };
     };
 
     devShells = mkOption {
@@ -45,19 +50,22 @@ in
 
   config = mkMerge [
     (mkIf (any (x: x != null) (attrValues config.devShell)) {
-      devShells.default = mkDefault ({ pkgs, mkShell }: mkShell (
-        optionalAttrs (config.devShell.env != null)
-          (config.devShell.env pkgs)
-        // optionalAttrs (config.devShell.inputsFrom != null) {
-          inputsFrom = config.devShell.inputsFrom pkgs;
-        }
-        // optionalAttrs (config.devShell.packages != null) {
-          packages = config.devShell.packages pkgs;
-        }
-        // optionalAttrs (config.devShell.shellHook != null) {
-          shellHook = config.devShell.shellHook pkgs;
-        }
-      ));
+      devShells.default = mkDefault ({ pkgs, mkShell }: mkShell.override
+        (if config.devShell.stdenv == null then { }
+        else { stdenv = config.devShell.stdenv pkgs; })
+        (
+          optionalAttrs (config.devShell.env != null)
+            (config.devShell.env pkgs)
+          // optionalAttrs (config.devShell.inputsFrom != null) {
+            inputsFrom = config.devShell.inputsFrom pkgs;
+          }
+          // optionalAttrs (config.devShell.packages != null) {
+            packages = config.devShell.packages pkgs;
+          }
+          // optionalAttrs (config.devShell.shellHook != null) {
+            shellHook = config.devShell.shellHook pkgs;
+          }
+        ));
     })
 
     (mkIf (config.devShells != { }) {
diff --git a/tests/default.nix b/tests/default.nix
index eaf9ec7..365f83a 100644
--- a/tests/default.nix
+++ b/tests/default.nix
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ in
           echo Welcome to example shell!
         '';
         env.TEST_VAR = "test value";
+        stdenv = pkgs: pkgs.clangStdenv;
       };
     })
     (f: lib.isDerivation f.devShells.x86_64-linux.default);