diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/dbxml/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/dbxml/default.nix
index b6dcf908c4f9..f50b53d47e05 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/dbxml/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/dbxml/default.nix
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "--with-berkeleydb=${db62.out}"
     "--with-xerces=${xercesc}"
     "--with-xqilla=${xqilla}"
+    # code uses register storage specifier
+    "CXXFLAGS=-std=c++14"
   ];
 
   preConfigure = ''