diff --git a/pkgs/tools/security/john/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/security/john/default.nix
index c44f144bea68..f5d253af9ff3 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/security/john/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/security/john/default.nix
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   configureFlags = [ "--disable-native-macro" ];
 
   buildInputs = [ openssl nss nspr kerberos gmp zlib libpcap re2 gcc ];
-  enableParallelBuilding = true;
+
+  # gcc -DAC_BUILT -Wall vncpcap2john.o memdbg.o -g    -lpcap -fopenmp -o ../run/vncpcap2john
+  # gcc: error: memdbg.o: No such file or directory
+  enableParallelBuilding = false;
 
   NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = [ "-DJOHN_SYSTEMWIDE=1" ];