diff --git a/winsup/utils/Makefile.in b/winsup/utils/Makefile.in
index a6414871f..c74aba20c 100644
--- a/winsup/utils/Makefile.in
+++ b/winsup/utils/Makefile.in
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ CXX:=@CXX@
 CXX_FOR_TARGET:=$(CXX)
 
 CFLAGS:=@CFLAGS@
-CXXFLAGS:=@CXXFLAGS@ -fno-exceptions -fno-rtti -DHAVE_DECL_GETOPT=0
+CXXFLAGS:=@CXXFLAGS@
+CXXFLAGS+=-fno-exceptions -fno-rtti -DHAVE_DECL_GETOPT=0
 
 include $(srcdir)/../Makefile.common