diff --git a/configure.py b/configure.py
index 3be42d496f2453..14c75028668aad 100755
--- a/configure.py
+++ b/configure.py
@@ -964,12 +964,7 @@ def is_arm_hard_float_abi():
 def host_arch_cc():
   """Host architecture check using the CC command."""
 
-  if sys.platform.startswith('aix'):
-    # we only support gcc at this point and the default on AIX
-    # would be xlc so hard code gcc
-    k = cc_macros('gcc')
-  else:
-    k = cc_macros(os.environ.get('CC_host'))
+  k = cc_macros(os.environ.get('CC_host'))
 
   matchup = {
     '__aarch64__' : 'arm64',