diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/s-/s-tar/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/s-/s-tar/package.nix
index b6782f7f14ce..13cfb3dbefd1 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/s-/s-tar/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/s-/s-tar/package.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   preConfigure = "rm configure";
   preBuild = "sed 's_/bin/__g' -i RULES/*";
   makeFlags = [ "GMAKE_NOWARN=true" ];
+  env.NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-std=c89";
   installFlags = [
     "DESTDIR=$(out)"
     "INS_BASE=/"