diff --git a/core/binary.mk b/core/binary.mk
index e843435..ac7e14f 100644
--- a/core/binary.mk
+++ b/core/binary.mk
@@ -130,6 +130,14 @@
 my_clang := $(LOCAL_CLANG_$($(my_prefix)$(LOCAL_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX)ARCH))
 endif
 
+# clang is enabled by default for host builds
+# enable it unless we've specifically disabled clang above
+ifdef LOCAL_IS_HOST_MODULE
+ifeq ($(my_clang),)
+    my_clang := true
+endif
+endif
+
 # arch-specific static libraries go first so that generic ones can depend on them
 my_static_libraries := $(LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES_$($(my_prefix)$(LOCAL_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX)ARCH)) $(LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES_$(my_32_64_bit_suffix)) $(my_static_libraries)
 my_whole_static_libraries := $(LOCAL_WHOLE_STATIC_LIBRARIES_$($(my_prefix)$(LOCAL_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX)ARCH)) $(LOCAL_WHOLE_STATIC_LIBRARIES_$(my_32_64_bit_suffix)) $(my_whole_static_libraries)