diff --git a/rules_haskell_tests/.bazelrc b/rules_haskell_tests/.bazelrc
index 43a3ba1dd..34a34677d 100644
--- a/rules_haskell_tests/.bazelrc
+++ b/rules_haskell_tests/.bazelrc
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import %workspace%/../.bazelrc.common
 import %workspace%/.bazelrc.bzlmod
 
+# abseil c++ (a dependency of protobuf) needs a C++14 compiler, but rules_nixpkgs cc sets `-std=c++0x`
+build:nixpkgs --host_cxxopt=-std=c++14
+
 # User Configuration
 # ------------------
 try-import %workspace%/.bazelrc.local
diff --git a/rules_haskell_tests/MODULE.bazel b/rules_haskell_tests/MODULE.bazel
index 95c5ff1ec..4cbd8a2f0 100644
--- a/rules_haskell_tests/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/rules_haskell_tests/MODULE.bazel
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ bazel_dep(
 )
 bazel_dep(
     name = "protobuf",
-    version = "21.7",
+    version = "26.0.bcr.1",
     repo_name = "com_google_protobuf",
 )
 bazel_dep(