diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/xapian/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/xapian/default.nix
index 73c3b1b57173..243ec53a3234 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/xapian/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/xapian/default.nix
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ let
     buildInputs = [ libuuid zlib ];
     nativeBuildInputs = [ autoreconfHook ];
 
+    enableParallelBuilding = true;
+
     doCheck = true;
     env.AUTOMATED_TESTING = true; # https://trac.xapian.org/changeset/8be35f5e1/git