diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/sy/systemc/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/sy/systemc/package.nix
index 6bb45b8d99bb..cb53e6833071 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/sy/systemc/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/sy/systemc/package.nix
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     hash = "sha256-v/PcQu0m/7zyx2TtpZrLFbHtknahgVCkzcRi3lgrRGw=";
   };
 
+  # consumers must see the SC_CPLUSPLUS the library was built with, otherwise it follows their own -std and fails to link
+  postPatch = ''
+    substituteInPlace src/sysc/kernel/sc_cmnhdr.h \
+      --replace-fail '#  define SC_CPLUSPLUS SC_CPLUSPLUS_AUTO_' '#  define SC_CPLUSPLUS 201703L'
+  '';
+
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
 
   cmakeFlags = [