diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/op/openmpi/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/op/openmpi/package.nix
index 5c72a6dbbc7f..dfb60eebab52 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/op/openmpi/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/op/openmpi/package.nix
@@ -285,5 +285,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     ];
     license = lib.licenses.bsd3;
     platforms = lib.platforms.unix;
+    # checking size of Fortran CHARACTER... configure: error: Can not determine size of CHARACTER when cross-compiling
+    broken = !stdenv.buildPlatform.canExecute stdenv.hostPlatform;
   };
 })