diff --git a/gnu/packages/image.scm b/gnu/packages/image.scm
index 2a9ee990be..dbc0159e22 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/image.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/image.scm
@@ -981,8 +981,11 @@ supplies a generic doubly-linked list and some string functions.")
             ;; We need '-fpermissive' for Source/FreeImage.h.
             ;; libjxr doesn't have a pkg-config file.
             (string-append "CFLAGS+=-O2 -fPIC -fvisibility=hidden -fpermissive "
-                           ;"-I" (assoc-ref %build-inputs "libjxr") "/include/jxrlib"
-                           ))
+                           ;;"-I" (assoc-ref %build-inputs "libjxr") "/include/jxrlib"
+
+                           ;; FIXME: OpenEXR 2.4.0 requires C++11 or later.
+                           ;; Remove when the default compiler is > GCC 5.
+                           "-std=gnu++11"))
       #:tests? #f)) ; no check target
    (native-inputs
     `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)