diff --git a/pkgs/misc/emulators/desmume/default.nix b/pkgs/misc/emulators/desmume/default.nix
index a919d21626b..ebd2dcf41ae 100644
--- a/pkgs/misc/emulators/desmume/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/misc/emulators/desmume/default.nix
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
      })
   ];
 
+  CXXFLAGS = "-fpermissive";
+
   buildInputs =
   [ pkgconfig libtool intltool libXmu lua agg alsaLib soundtouch
     openal desktop-file-utils gtk2 gtkglext libglade pangox_compat