diff --git a/configure.py b/configure.py
index feecce3..3148282 100644
--- a/configure.py
+++ b/configure.py
@@ -538,6 +538,7 @@
                                                  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')