diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 05ee1295..9f4ad75c 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -2,12 +2,21 @@
 
 export CARGO_HOME = $(CURDIR)/debian/cargo
 export DEB_BUILD_MAINT_OPTIONS = hardening=+all
+
+# the below avoids an FTBFS on mips64el with a GOT > 64kb
+DEB_HOST_ARCH := $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_HOST_ARCH)
+ifeq ($(DEB_HOST_ARCH),mips64el)
+ xgot = -Ctarget-feature=+xgot
+else
+ xgot = 
+endif
+
 # Don't use paths that may change between builds.
 # No need to care about $HOME
 # because Cargo will not place any source in ~/.cargo.
 # The build directory is a subdirectory of the source directory,
 # so it doesn't need to be explicitly taken care of.
-export RUSTFLAGS = --remap-path-prefix=$(CURDIR)=/remap-pwd
+export RUSTFLAGS = --remap-path-prefix=$(CURDIR)=/remap-pwd $(xgot)
 
 
 distrel := $(shell lsb_release --codename --short)