diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/tab.rb b/Library/Homebrew/tab.rb
index 4101df532b..42d4e3645c 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/tab.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/tab.rb
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class Tab < OpenStruct
       "source_modified_time" => 0,
       "HEAD" => nil,
       "stdlib" => nil,
-      "compiler" => "clang",
+      "compiler" => DevelopmentTools.default_compiler,
       "source" => {
         "path" => nil,
         "tap" => nil,