diff --git a/repos/base-linux/lib/import/import-syscall-linux.mk b/repos/base-linux/lib/import/import-syscall-linux.mk
index f873dafb99..93495c4363 100644
--- a/repos/base-linux/lib/import/import-syscall-linux.mk
+++ b/repos/base-linux/lib/import/import-syscall-linux.mk
@@ -25,3 +25,7 @@ HOST_INC_DIR += /usr/include/aarch64-linux-gnu
 #
 CC_OPT += -D_GNU_SOURCE
 
+#
+# Enable definition of __STDC_HOSTED__
+#
+CC_OPT_FREESTANDING =
diff --git a/repos/base/mk/global.mk b/repos/base/mk/global.mk
index 6d0dc55043..62b34a7612 100644
--- a/repos/base/mk/global.mk
+++ b/repos/base/mk/global.mk
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ ifneq ($(STDLIB),yes)
 LD_OPT_NOSTDLIB := -nostdlib -Wl,-nostdlib
 endif
 
+#
+# Prevent the definition of __STDC_HOSTED__ by default
+#
+CC_OPT_FREESTANDING ?= -ffreestanding
+
 #
 # Add coverage options
 #
@@ -166,7 +171,8 @@ CC_ADA_WARN        ?= -gnatwa $(CC_ADA_WARN_STRICT)
 #
 # Aggregate compiler options that are common for C and C++
 #
-CC_OPT += $(CC_OPT_NOSTDINC) -g $(CC_MARCH) $(CC_OLEVEL) $(CC_OPT_DEP) $(CC_WARN)
+CC_OPT += $(CC_OPT_NOSTDINC) $(CC_OPT_FREESTANDING) -g \
+          $(CC_MARCH) $(CC_OLEVEL) $(CC_OPT_DEP) $(CC_WARN)
 
 #
 # Incorporate source-file-specific compiler options
diff --git a/repos/libports/lib/import/import-libc.mk b/repos/libports/lib/import/import-libc.mk
index 98113f5745..ef14d7e6e8 100644
--- a/repos/libports/lib/import/import-libc.mk
+++ b/repos/libports/lib/import/import-libc.mk
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ endif
 #
 REP_INC_DIR += include/libc-genode
 
+#
+# Enable definition of __STDC_HOSTED__
+#
+CC_OPT_FREESTANDING =
+
 #
 # Prevent gcc headers from defining __size_t. This definition is done in
 # machine/_types.h.
diff --git a/repos/libports/lib/mk/libgcov.mk b/repos/libports/lib/mk/libgcov.mk
index 0f8b111b69..9fdd89f8b5 100644
--- a/repos/libports/lib/mk/libgcov.mk
+++ b/repos/libports/lib/mk/libgcov.mk
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ LIBGCOV_INTERFACE = _gcov_dump \
 
 LIBGCOV_DRIVER = _gcov
 
+CC_OPT_FREESTANDING =
+
 CC_OPT += -fbuilding-libgcc -DIN_GCC -DIN_LIBGCC2
 
 CC_OPT += $(addprefix -DL,$(LIBGCOV_MERGE))
diff --git a/repos/libports/lib/mk/x86emu.mk b/repos/libports/lib/mk/x86emu.mk
index 27de24f25f..6fccb59f16 100644
--- a/repos/libports/lib/mk/x86emu.mk
+++ b/repos/libports/lib/mk/x86emu.mk
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ X86EMU_DIR := $(call select_from_ports,x86emu)/src/lib/x86emu/contrib
 INC_DIR    += $(X86EMU_DIR) $(REP_DIR)/include/x86emu
 CC_OPT     += -fomit-frame-pointer -Wno-maybe-uninitialized
 
+CC_OPT_FREESTANDING =
+
 SRC_C = decode.c fpu.c ops.c ops2.c prim_ops.c sys.c
 
 vpath %.c $(X86EMU_DIR)