diff --git a/pkgs/applications/window-managers/2bwm/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/window-managers/2bwm/default.nix
index 3b2053fdca26..cedbe5710a8c 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/window-managers/2bwm/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/window-managers/2bwm/default.nix
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   # Allow users set their own list of patches
   inherit patches;
 
+  env.NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-std=gnu17";
+
   buildInputs = [
     libxcb
     libxcb-keysyms