diff --git a/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-2.2.4.ebuild b/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-2.2.4.ebuild
index 97f38a4d86b3f..7b3a575fbf15d 100644
--- a/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-2.2.4.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-2.2.4.ebuild
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ wrap_setup() {
 }
 
 python_compile() {
-	wrap_setup distutils-r1_python_compile --build-lib="${BUILD_DIR}"/lib
+	wrap_setup distutils-r1_python_compile -j1 --build-lib="${BUILD_DIR}"/lib
 }
 
 python_compile_all() {