diff --git a/src/template/linux_alpha b/src/template/linux_alpha
index 9a72b1e685..43500338a1 100644
--- a/src/template/linux_alpha
+++ b/src/template/linux_alpha
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 AROPT:crs
-CFLAGS:-mieee  # optimization removed because of egcs problem
+CFLAGS:-O2 -mieee  # optimization -O2 removed because of egcs problem
 SHARED_LIB:-fpic
 ALL:
 SRCH_INC: