diff --git a/pkgs/tools/graphics/netpbm/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/graphics/netpbm/default.nix
index e69a73ff321e..3b9f4e64d07d 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/graphics/netpbm/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/graphics/netpbm/default.nix
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     touch lib/standardppmdfont.c
   '';
 
-  enableParallelBuilding = true;
+  enableParallelBuilding = false;
 
   installPhase = ''
     make package pkgdir=$out