diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ss/sssnake/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/ss/sssnake/package.nix
index 98b774bf4f8c..ee3aefef6954 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ss/sssnake/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ss/sssnake/package.nix
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     rev = "v${version}";
     hash = "sha256-zkErOV6Az0kJdwyXzMCnVW1997zpAB79TBvf/41Igic=";
   };
+  postPatch = ''
+    substituteInPlace makefile --replace '-lncursesw' '-lncursesw -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=500'
+  '';
   buildInputs = [ncurses];
   makeFlags = [
     "PREFIX=$(out)"