diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/chemistry/chemtool/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/chemistry/chemtool/default.nix
index bf78aeb825d..37057e1c604 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/chemistry/chemtool/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/chemistry/chemtool/default.nix
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     fig2dev
   ];
 
+  # Workaround build on -fno-common toolchains like upstream gcc-10.
+  # Otherwise built fails as:
+  #   ld: inout.o:/build/chemtool-1.6.14/ct1.h:279: multiple definition of
+  #     `outtype'; draw.o:/build/chemtool-1.6.14/ct1.h:279: first defined here
+  NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-fcommon";
+
   preFixup = ''
     gappsWrapperArgs+=(--prefix PATH : "${lib.makeBinPath [ fig2dev ]}")
   '';