diff --git a/gnu/packages/gcc.scm b/gnu/packages/gcc.scm
index 164c8d782c..7fceb4be96 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gcc.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gcc.scm
@@ -1065,6 +1065,7 @@ using compilers other than GCC."
     (name "libiberty")
     (arguments
      `(#:out-of-source? #t
+       #:make-flags '("CFLAGS=-O2 -g -fPIC")
        #:phases
        (modify-phases %standard-phases
          (add-before 'configure 'chdir