diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/ragel/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/ragel/default.nix
index 05546da67f0..0fe243e8aaf 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/ragel/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/ragel/default.nix
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ let
 
       configureFlags = [ "--with-colm=${colm}" ];
 
+      NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-std=gnu++98";
+
       doCheck = true;
 
       meta = with stdenv.lib; {