diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ht/httptunnel/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/ht/httptunnel/package.nix
index 5f1e6a55f8b1..2b618642243e 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ht/httptunnel/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ht/httptunnel/package.nix
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     hash = "sha256-fUaVHE3nxq3fU7DYCvaQTOoMzax/qFH8cMegFLLybNk=";
   };
 
+  # httptunnel makes liberal use of old C features, just selecting an old version
+  # is easier than patching around language updates.
+  env.NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-std=gnu17";
+
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     autoreconfHook
   ];