diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/services/elementary-settings-daemon/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/services/elementary-settings-daemon/default.nix
index d8514c51f4f..b4391b2e1b0 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/services/elementary-settings-daemon/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/services/elementary-settings-daemon/default.nix
@@ -150,6 +150,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "-Dudev_dir=${placeholder "out"}/lib/udev"
   ];
 
+  NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = [
+    # Default for release buildtype but passed manually because
+    # we're using plain
+    "-DG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS"
+  ];
+
   passthru = {
     updateScript = gnome3.updateScript {
       packageName = projectName;