diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/flex/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/flex/default.nix
index 55fe7db8007..0b431296611 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/flex/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/flex/default.nix
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       export ac_cv_func_malloc_0_nonnull=yes
       export ac_cv_func_realloc_0_nonnull=yes
     '';
+
+    # linux-pam derivation relies on static archive
+    dontDisableStatic = true;
   };
 
   meta = {