diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/suitesparse/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/suitesparse/default.nix
index 202f29ae3e4..00558fc52e9 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/suitesparse/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/suitesparse/default.nix
@@ -18,4 +18,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     ensureDir $out/include
   '';
 
+  NIX_CFLAGS = "-fPIC";
+
 }