diff --git a/arch/sim/src/Makefile b/arch/sim/src/Makefile
index e3ccd6d261..95f80f29c7 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/sim/src/Makefile
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ endif
 HOSTSRCS = up_hostirq.c up_hostmemory.c up_hosttime.c up_simuart.c up_hostmisc.c
 STDLIBS += -lpthread
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_HOST_MACOS),y)
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_LIBCXX),y)
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_HAVE_CXXINITIALIZE),y)
   # Note: up_macho_init.c is not in CSRCS because it's picky about
   # the place in the object list for linking. Namely, its constructor
   # should be the first one in the executable.