diff --git a/pkgs/applications/video/w_scan/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/video/w_scan/default.nix
index 7cbc2b0f8159..9c07eb1a6368 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/video/w_scan/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/video/w_scan/default.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "1zkgnj2sfvckix360wwk1v5s43g69snm45m0drnzyv7hgf5g7q1q";
   };
 
+  # Workaround build failure on -fno-common toolchains:
+  #   ld: char-coding.o:/build/w_scan-20170107/si_types.h:117: multiple definition of
+  #     `service_t'; countries.o:/build/w_scan-20170107/si_types.h:117: first defined here
+  NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-fcommon";
+
   meta = {
     description = "Small CLI utility to scan DVB and ATSC transmissions";
     homepage = "http://wirbel.htpc-forum.de/w_scan/index_en.html";