diff --git a/configure.py b/configure.py
index 2556a1315c8..e5428a69973 100644
--- a/configure.py
+++ b/configure.py
@@ -539,6 +539,7 @@ def set_cc_opt_flags(environ_cp):
                                                  question, default_cc_opt_flags)
   for opt in cc_opt_flags.split():
     write_to_bazelrc('build:opt --copt=%s' % opt)
+    write_to_bazelrc('build:opt --host_copt=%s' % opt)
   write_to_bazelrc('build:opt --define with_default_optimizations=true')