diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/portaudio/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/portaudio/default.nix
index 3882e1fb08a..4185e29a442 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/portaudio/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/portaudio/default.nix
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   buildInputs = [ pkgconfig ]
     ++ stdenv.lib.optional (!stdenv.isDarwin) alsaLib;
 
-  configureFlags = [ "--disable-mac-universal" ];
+  configureFlags = [ "--disable-mac-universal --enable-cxx" ];
 
   propagatedBuildInputs = stdenv.lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ AudioUnit AudioToolbox CoreAudio CoreServices Carbon ];