diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/compiler.py b/lib/spack/spack/compiler.py
index 20896f9eec7..a707b2e3aa6 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/compiler.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/compiler.py
@@ -120,6 +120,20 @@ def check(exe):
     def version(self):
         return self.spec.version
 
+    # default implementation of OpenMP linking flag.
+    # Override in derived classes if needed
+    @property
+    def openmp_flag(self):
+        return "-fopenmp"
+
+
+    # default implementation of c++11 linking flag.
+    # raise an error to force derived classes implement it when used
+    @property
+    def cxx11_flag(self):
+        return "-std=c++11"
+
+
     #
     # Compiler classes have methods for querying the version of
     # specific compiler executables.  This is used when discovering compilers.