diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
index 57783b05426..e95bb4ba248 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
             'CPPFLAGS=-I{0}'.format(' -I'.join(dp.include for dp in dep_pfxs)),
             'LDFLAGS=-L{0}'.format(' -L'.join(dp.lib for dp in dep_pfxs)),
         ]
+        if spec.satisfies("platform=darwin") and ('%gcc' in spec):
+            config_args.append('--disable-toolbox-glue')
 
         if '+ucs4' in spec:
             if spec.satisfies('@:2.7'):