diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/ragel/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/ragel/default.nix
index 66895fb7fd3e..6b497e456300 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/ragel/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/parsing/ragel/default.nix
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ let
 
       configureFlags = [ "--with-colm=${colm}" ];
 
-      NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-std=gnu++98";
+      NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.cc.isGNU "-std=gnu++98";
 
       doCheck = true;