diff --git a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
index 292113b496..e7869ac0fd 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
@@ -3641,6 +3641,12 @@ (define-public totem
     (arguments
      `(#:glib-or-gtk? #t
 
+       ;; Disable parallel builds until
+       ;; https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=28813 is
+       ;; fixed.  Try enabling it when updating this package in case
+       ;; upstream has fixed it.
+       #:parallel-build? #f
+
        ;; Disable automatic GStreamer plugin installation via PackageKit and
        ;; all that.
        #:configure-flags '("-D" "enable-easy-codec-installation=no"