Achiral p-nitrophenyl isocyanide, C7H4N2O2, crystallizes in the orthorhombic chiral space group P212121. Attractive intermolecular interactions between the nitro O atoms and both aromatic H and nitro N atoms of neighbouring molecules are observed. The O⋯ N interaction is surprisingly strong [N⋯ O= 2.869 (2) Å] compared with other aromatic nitro compounds.