diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/science/math/openblas/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/science/math/openblas/default.nix
index 2ae3bd2b9c8..5d0f6794d17 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/science/math/openblas/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/science/math/openblas/default.nix
@@ -127,7 +127,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     CROSS = stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform;
     HOSTCC = "cc";
     # Makefile.system only checks defined status
-    NO_BINARY_MODE = toString (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform);
+    # This seems to be a bug in the openblas Makefile:
+    # on x86_64 it expects NO_BINARY_MODE=
+    # but on aarch64 it expects NO_BINARY_MODE=0
+    NO_BINARY_MODE = if stdenv.isx86_64
+        then toString (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform)
+        else stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform;
   });
 
   doCheck = true;