diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tau/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tau/package.py
index 42a3218581d..808d0837a31 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tau/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tau/package.py
@@ -179,6 +179,8 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
 
         if '+pdt' in spec:
             options.append("-pdt=%s" % spec['pdt'].prefix)
+            if spec['pdt'].satisfies("%intel"):
+                options.append("-pdt_c++=icpc")
 
         if '+scorep' in spec:
             options.append("-scorep=%s" % spec['scorep'].prefix)