diff --git a/config/RULES.Host b/config/RULES.Host
index 6e48c2b79..ac5543468 100644
--- a/config/RULES.Host
+++ b/config/RULES.Host
@@ -288,7 +288,9 @@ endif
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------------
 # always use c++ linker
+ifdef CPLUSPLUS
 LINK.c = $(LINK.cc)
+endif
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------------
 # Version number for base shared libraries (and win32 products)