diff --git a/pkgs/development/octave-modules/fits/default.nix b/pkgs/development/octave-modules/fits/default.nix
index 575567023941..bc5b9d3874ba 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/octave-modules/fits/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/octave-modules/fits/default.nix
@@ -38,5 +38,7 @@ buildOctavePackage rec {
     license = lib.licenses.gpl3Plus;
     maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ KarlJoad ];
     description = "Functions for reading, and writing FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) files using cfitsio";
+    # Hasn't been updated since 2015, and fails to build with octave >= 10.1.0
+    broken = true;
   };
 }