diff --git a/tools/gcc.jam b/tools/gcc.jam
index e8da3117d..e4c0a3f21 100644
--- a/tools/gcc.jam
+++ b/tools/gcc.jam
@@ -75,12 +75,12 @@ flags gcc.compile INCLUDES <include> ;
 
 actions compile.c++
 {
-    $(NAME:E=g++) -Wall -ftemplate-depth-100 $(OPTIONS) -D$(DEFINES) -I"$(INCLUDES)" -c -o "$(<)" "$(>)" 
+    $(NAME:E=g++) -x c++ -Wall -ftemplate-depth-100 $(OPTIONS) -D$(DEFINES) -I"$(INCLUDES)" -c -o "$(<)" "$(>)" 
 }
 
 actions compile.c
 {
-    $(NAME:E=gcc) -Wall $(OPTIONS) -D$(DEFINES) -I"$(INCLUDES)" -c -o "$(<)" "$(>)" 
+    $(NAME:E=gcc) -x c -Wall $(OPTIONS) -D$(DEFINES) -I"$(INCLUDES)" -c -o "$(<)" "$(>)" 
 }
 
 
diff --git a/v2/tools/gcc.jam b/v2/tools/gcc.jam
index e8da3117d..e4c0a3f21 100644
--- a/v2/tools/gcc.jam
+++ b/v2/tools/gcc.jam
@@ -75,12 +75,12 @@ flags gcc.compile INCLUDES <include> ;
 
 actions compile.c++
 {
-    $(NAME:E=g++) -Wall -ftemplate-depth-100 $(OPTIONS) -D$(DEFINES) -I"$(INCLUDES)" -c -o "$(<)" "$(>)" 
+    $(NAME:E=g++) -x c++ -Wall -ftemplate-depth-100 $(OPTIONS) -D$(DEFINES) -I"$(INCLUDES)" -c -o "$(<)" "$(>)" 
 }
 
 actions compile.c
 {
-    $(NAME:E=gcc) -Wall $(OPTIONS) -D$(DEFINES) -I"$(INCLUDES)" -c -o "$(<)" "$(>)" 
+    $(NAME:E=gcc) -x c -Wall $(OPTIONS) -D$(DEFINES) -I"$(INCLUDES)" -c -o "$(<)" "$(>)" 
 }