diff --git a/cpython-unix/targets.yml b/cpython-unix/targets.yml
index 16a65bc82..3a8dd3910 100644
--- a/cpython-unix/targets.yml
+++ b/cpython-unix/targets.yml
@@ -451,6 +451,9 @@ riscv64-unknown-linux-gnu:
   host_cxx: clang++
   target_cc: /usr/bin/riscv64-linux-gnu-clang
   target_cxx: /usr/bin/riscv64-linux-gnu-clang++
+  target_cflags:
+    # Keep debug relocations old enough for Buster's riscv64 GNU ld.
+    - '-fdebug-default-version=4'
   target_ldflags:
     # Hardening
     - '-Wl,-z,noexecstack'