diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/openvdb/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/openvdb/default.nix
index 5af5a27f34f5..bbb8aa47a35d 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/openvdb/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/openvdb/default.nix
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec
 
   buildInputs = [ boost tbb jemalloc c-blosc zlib ];
 
-  cmakeFlags = [ "-DOPENVDB_CORE_STATIC=OFF" ];
+  cmakeFlags = [ "-DOPENVDB_CORE_STATIC=OFF" "-DOPENVDB_BUILD_NANOVDB=ON"];
 
   # error: aligned deallocation function of type 'void (void *, std::align_val_t) noexcept' is only available on macOS 10.13 or newer
   env = lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.isDarwin && lib.versionOlder stdenv.hostPlatform.darwinMinVersion "10.13" && lib.versionAtLeast tbb.version "2021.8.0") {