diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/11.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/11.nix
index 0f19b19b6049..6f4b78286d63 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/11.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/11.nix
@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ let
       "-lgtk-3" "-lgio-2.0" "-lgnomevfs-2" "-lgconf-2"
     ]);
 
+    # -j flag is explicitly rejected by the build system:
+    #     Error: 'make -jN' is not supported, use 'make JOBS=N'
+    # Note: it does not make build sequential. Build system
+    # still runs in parallel.
+    enableParallelBuilding = false;
+
     buildFlags = [ "all" ];
 
     installPhase = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/12.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/12.nix
index 3bbe12477388..8f2b6d405462 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/12.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/12.nix
@@ -83,6 +83,12 @@ let
       "-lgtk-3" "-lgio-2.0" "-lgnomevfs-2" "-lgconf-2"
     ];
 
+    # -j flag is explicitly rejected by the build system:
+    #     Error: 'make -jN' is not supported, use 'make JOBS=N'
+    # Note: it does not make build sequential. Build system
+    # still runs in parallel.
+    enableParallelBuilding = false;
+
     buildFlags = [ "all" ];
 
     installPhase = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/13.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/13.nix
index ed79ceafc55e..7fb1c35cf9f5 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/13.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/13.nix
@@ -83,6 +83,12 @@ let
       "-lgtk-3" "-lgio-2.0" "-lgnomevfs-2" "-lgconf-2"
     ]);
 
+    # -j flag is explicitly rejected by the build system:
+    #     Error: 'make -jN' is not supported, use 'make JOBS=N'
+    # Note: it does not make build sequential. Build system
+    # still runs in parallel.
+    enableParallelBuilding = false;
+
     buildFlags = [ "all" ];
 
     installPhase = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/14.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/14.nix
index 247cf941f002..29a5c3cc5c31 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/14.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/14.nix
@@ -78,6 +78,12 @@ let
       "-lgtk-3" "-lgio-2.0" "-lgnomevfs-2" "-lgconf-2"
     ]);
 
+    # -j flag is explicitly rejected by the build system:
+    #     Error: 'make -jN' is not supported, use 'make JOBS=N'
+    # Note: it does not make build sequential. Build system
+    # still runs in parallel.
+    enableParallelBuilding = false;
+
     buildFlags = [ "all" ];
 
     installPhase = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/15.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/15.nix
index d41a245c5448..987d018cdf37 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/15.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/15.nix
@@ -78,6 +78,12 @@ let
       "-lgtk-3" "-lgio-2.0" "-lgnomevfs-2" "-lgconf-2"
     ]);
 
+    # -j flag is explicitly rejected by the build system:
+    #     Error: 'make -jN' is not supported, use 'make JOBS=N'
+    # Note: it does not make build sequential. Build system
+    # still runs in parallel.
+    enableParallelBuilding = false;
+
     buildFlags = [ "all" ];
 
     installPhase = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/16.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/16.nix
index df8a3a68f487..e6fd12a632b3 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/16.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/16.nix
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ let
       "-lgtk-3" "-lgio-2.0" "-lgnomevfs-2" "-lgconf-2"
     ]);
 
+    # -j flag is explicitly rejected by the build system:
+    #     Error: 'make -jN' is not supported, use 'make JOBS=N'
+    # Note: it does not make build sequential. Build system
+    # still runs in parallel.
+    enableParallelBuilding = false;
+
     buildFlags = [ "all" ];
 
     installPhase = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/17.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/17.nix
index 857f7c75c1d2..757fe8f101ed 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/17.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/17.nix
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ let
       "-lgtk-3" "-lgio-2.0" "-lgnomevfs-2" "-lgconf-2"
     ]);
 
+    # -j flag is explicitly rejected by the build system:
+    #     Error: 'make -jN' is not supported, use 'make JOBS=N'
+    # Note: it does not make build sequential. Build system
+    # still runs in parallel.
+    enableParallelBuilding = false;
+
     buildFlags = [ "images" ];
 
     installPhase = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/8.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/8.nix
index 7a69038d5e0a..8d68c2a6010e 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/8.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/8.nix
@@ -155,6 +155,12 @@ let
       "-lgtk-x11-2.0" "-lgio-2.0" "-lgnomevfs-2" "-lgconf-2"
     ]);
 
+    # -j flag is explicitly rejected by the build system:
+    #     Error: 'make -jN' is not supported, use 'make JOBS=N'
+    # Note: it does not make build sequential. Build system
+    # still runs in parallel.
+    enableParallelBuilding = false;
+
     buildFlags = [ "all" ];
 
     doCheck = false; # fails with "No rule to make target 'y'."