diff --git a/package/jimtcl/jimtcl.mk b/package/jimtcl/jimtcl.mk
index 68c8a914db..389a72ab83 100644
--- a/package/jimtcl/jimtcl.mk
+++ b/package/jimtcl/jimtcl.mk
@@ -44,9 +44,13 @@ endif
 # pkg-autotools.mk
 JIMTCL_POST_PATCH_HOOKS += UPDATE_CONFIG_HOOK
 
+# jimtcl really wants to find a existing $CXX, so feed it false
+# when we do not have one.
 define JIMTCL_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 	(cd $(@D); \
-		$(TARGET_CONFIGURE_OPTS) CCACHE=none \
+		$(TARGET_CONFIGURE_OPTS) \
+		CCACHE=none \
+		$(if $(BR2_INSTALL_LIBSTDCPP),,CXX=false) \
 		./configure --prefix=/usr \
 		--host=$(GNU_TARGET_NAME) \
 		--build=$(GNU_HOST_NAME) \