diff --git a/net-im/centerim-devel/Makefile b/net-im/centerim-devel/Makefile
index 38402c1b504e..058b7bfbda6a 100644
--- a/net-im/centerim-devel/Makefile
+++ b/net-im/centerim-devel/Makefile
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ LICENSE_FILE=	${WRKSRC}/COPYING
 LIB_DEPENDS=	libcurl.so:ftp/curl
 
 USES=		iconv gmake ncurses perl5 pkgconfig python:2.7,run shebangfix ssl
+USE_CXXSTD=	gnu++98
 USE_PERL5=	run
 GNU_CONFIGURE=	yes
 CONFIGURE_ARGS=	--with-ssl --with-openssl
diff --git a/net-im/centerim/Makefile b/net-im/centerim/Makefile
index d372b0b3138d..9d5e00b06fd2 100644
--- a/net-im/centerim/Makefile
+++ b/net-im/centerim/Makefile
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ LIB_DEPENDS=	libassuan.so:security/libassuan \
 		libgpg-error.so:security/libgpg-error
 
 USES=		iconv gmake ncurses pkgconfig python shebangfix ssl
+USE_CXXSTD=	gnu++98
 GNU_CONFIGURE=	yes
 CPPFLAGS+=	-I${LOCALBASE}/include
 CXXFLAGS+=	-I${LOCALBASE}/include