diff --git a/scripts/flags.sh b/scripts/flags.sh
index c3c36a640..b1de8f3c7 100755
--- a/scripts/flags.sh
+++ b/scripts/flags.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ if [[ ${TRAVIS_OS_NAME} == "linux" ]]; then
     # use g++ that supports c++11
     if [[ ${CXX} == "g++" ]]; then
         export CXX="g++-4.8"
-        export CXX="gcc-4.8"
+        export CC="gcc-4.8"
     fi
 
     # If building in debug then turn on sanitizers.