diff --git a/share/mk/src.opts.mk b/share/mk/src.opts.mk
index 91ed3c0f8f2d..f9132c4a7d1f 100644
--- a/share/mk/src.opts.mk
+++ b/share/mk/src.opts.mk
@@ -358,4 +358,12 @@ MK_${vv:H}:=	${MK_${vv:T}}
 MK_LLDB:=	no
 .endif
 
+# gcc 4.8 and newer supports libc++, so suppress gnuc++ in that case.
+# while in theory we could build it with that, we don't want to do
+# that since it creates too much confusion for too little gain.
+.if ${COMPILER_TYPE} == "gcc" && ${COMPILER_VERSION} >= 40800
+MK_GNUCXX:=no
+MK_GCC:=no
 .endif
+
+.endif #  !target(__<src.opts.mk>__)