diff --git a/build/make/configure.sh b/build/make/configure.sh
index 60fc36e43..a6c76612f 100644
--- a/build/make/configure.sh
+++ b/build/make/configure.sh
@@ -1394,7 +1394,8 @@ EOF
           add_cflags  ${sim_arch}
           add_ldflags ${sim_arch}
 
-          if [ "$(show_darwin_sdk_major_version iphonesimulator)" -gt 8 ]; then
+          if [ "$(disabled external_build)" ] &&
+              [ "$(show_darwin_sdk_major_version iphonesimulator)" -gt 8 ]; then
             # yasm v1.3.0 doesn't know what -fembed-bitcode means, so turning it
             # on is pointless (unless building a C-only lib). Warn the user, but
             # do nothing here.