diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_clib.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_clib.py
index 6560fb4774e..f48e6476fbc 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_clib.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_clib.py
@@ -89,8 +89,7 @@ class build_clib (Command):
             return
 
         # Yech -- this is cut 'n pasted from build_ext.py!
-        self.compiler = new_compiler (plat=os.environ.get ('PLAT'),
-                                      verbose=self.verbose,
+        self.compiler = new_compiler (verbose=self.verbose,
                                       dry_run=self.dry_run,
                                       force=self.force)
         if self.include_dirs is not None: