diff --git a/easybuild/tools/toolchain/toolchain.py b/easybuild/tools/toolchain/toolchain.py
index 3dd76903b6..e0be2dc364 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/toolchain/toolchain.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/toolchain/toolchain.py
@@ -1114,9 +1114,9 @@ def _setenv_variables(self, donotset=None, verbose=True):
     def get_flag(self, name):
         """Get compiler flag(s) for a certain option."""
         if isinstance(self.options.option(name), list):
-            return " ".join("-%s" % x for x in list(self.options.option(name)))
+            return " ".join(list(self.options.option(name)))
         else:
-            return "-%s" % self.options.option(name)
+            return self.options.option(name)
 
     def toolchain_family(self):
         """Return toolchain family for this toolchain."""