diff --git a/pkgs/misc/urbit/default.nix b/pkgs/misc/urbit/default.nix
index a3a58d8eccfd..c1dcda54a62d 100644
--- a/pkgs/misc/urbit/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/misc/urbit/default.nix
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ncurses perl zlib python
   ];
 
+  # uses 'readdir_r' deprecated by glibc 2.24
+  NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-Wno-error=deprecated-declarations";
+
   configurePhase = ''
     :
   '';