diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/openexr/3.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/openexr/3.nix
index 4cf535cb2f94..5ab6ecf2f3d5 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/openexr/3.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/openexr/3.nix
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ imath zlib ];
 
+  # Without 'sse' enforcement tests fail on i686 as due to excessive precision as:
+  #   error reading back channel B pixel 21,-76 got -nan expected -nan
+  env.NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = lib.optionalString stdenv.isi686 "-msse2 -mfpmath=sse";
+
   doCheck = true;
 
   meta = with lib; {