diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/physics/cernlib/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/physics/cernlib/default.nix
index ca328e2bac46..77ad6e201a32 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/physics/cernlib/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/physics/cernlib/default.nix
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   NIX_CFLAGS = [ "-Wno-return-type" ];
 
+  # Workaround build failure on -fno-common toolchains:
+  # ld: libpacklib.a(kedit.o):kuip/klink1.h:11: multiple definition of `klnkaddr';
+  #   libzftplib.a(zftpcdf.o):zftp/zftpcdf.c:155: first defined here
+  NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-fcommon";
+
   makeFlags = [
     "FORTRANOPTIONS=$(FFLAGS)"
     "CCOPTIONS=$(NIX_CFLAGS)"