diff --git a/textproc/sablotron/Makefile b/textproc/sablotron/Makefile
index 11b1cf69508e..cedf034a38b5 100644
--- a/textproc/sablotron/Makefile
+++ b/textproc/sablotron/Makefile
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ LIB_DEPENDS=	libexpat.so:textproc/expat2
 
 GNU_CONFIGURE=	yes
 USES=		gmake iconv libtool localbase:ldflags
+USE_CXXSTD=	c++98
 USE_LDCONFIG=	yes
 LDFLAGS+=	${ICONV_LIB}