diff --git a/pkgs/applications/window-managers/hackedbox/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/window-managers/hackedbox/default.nix
index f38d0d6beb9b..45f17c0c912e 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/window-managers/hackedbox/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/window-managers/hackedbox/default.nix
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     pkg-config
   ];
 
+  CXXFLAGS = "-std=c++98";
+
   buildInputs = [
     freetype
     fribidi