diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b251bfac4..56755df1d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class BuildExt(build_ext):
 
     if sys.platform == 'darwin':
         c_opts['unix'] += ['-stdlib=libc++', '-mmacosx-version-min=10.7']
-        if not has_flag('-std=c++17'):
+        if not has_flag(self.compiler, '-std=c++17'):
             c_opts.remove('-std=c++17')
             c_opts.append('-std=c++1z')