diff --git a/cc/cc.go b/cc/cc.go
index 02aaf1991..60c8f4190 100644
--- a/cc/cc.go
+++ b/cc/cc.go
@@ -159,10 +159,6 @@ type BaseProperties struct {
 	// Minimum sdk version supported when compiling against the ndk
 	Sdk_version string
 
-	// don't insert default compiler flags into asflags, cflags,
-	// cppflags, conlyflags, ldflags, or include_dirs
-	No_default_compiler_flags *bool
-
 	AndroidMkSharedLibs []string `blueprint:"mutated"`
 	HideFromMake        bool     `blueprint:"mutated"`
 	PreventInstall      bool     `blueprint:"mutated"`
@@ -199,7 +195,6 @@ type ModuleContextIntf interface {
 	staticBinary() bool
 	clang() bool
 	toolchain() config.Toolchain
-	noDefaultCompilerFlags() bool
 	useSdk() bool
 	sdkVersion() string
 	useVndk() bool
@@ -452,10 +447,6 @@ func (ctx *moduleContextImpl) staticBinary() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (ctx *moduleContextImpl) noDefaultCompilerFlags() bool {
-	return Bool(ctx.mod.Properties.No_default_compiler_flags)
-}
-
 func (ctx *moduleContextImpl) useSdk() bool {
 	if ctx.ctx.Device() && !ctx.useVndk() {
 		return ctx.mod.Properties.Sdk_version != ""
diff --git a/cc/compiler.go b/cc/compiler.go
index 0a2d7bd7d..c40e1795a 100644
--- a/cc/compiler.go
+++ b/cc/compiler.go
@@ -232,16 +232,14 @@ func (compiler *baseCompiler) compilerFlags(ctx ModuleContext, flags Flags) Flag
 		flags.YasmFlags = append(flags.YasmFlags, f)
 	}
 
-	if !ctx.noDefaultCompilerFlags() {
-		flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags, "-I"+android.PathForModuleSrc(ctx).String())
-		flags.YasmFlags = append(flags.YasmFlags, "-I"+android.PathForModuleSrc(ctx).String())
+	flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags, "-I"+android.PathForModuleSrc(ctx).String())
+	flags.YasmFlags = append(flags.YasmFlags, "-I"+android.PathForModuleSrc(ctx).String())
 
-		if !(ctx.useSdk() || ctx.useVndk()) || ctx.Host() {
-			flags.SystemIncludeFlags = append(flags.SystemIncludeFlags,
-				"${config.CommonGlobalIncludes}",
-				tc.IncludeFlags(),
-				"${config.CommonNativehelperInclude}")
-		}
+	if !(ctx.useSdk() || ctx.useVndk()) || ctx.Host() {
+		flags.SystemIncludeFlags = append(flags.SystemIncludeFlags,
+			"${config.CommonGlobalIncludes}",
+			tc.IncludeFlags(),
+			"${config.CommonNativehelperInclude}")
 	}
 
 	if ctx.useSdk() {
@@ -318,48 +316,46 @@ func (compiler *baseCompiler) compilerFlags(ctx ModuleContext, flags Flags) Flag
 		hod = "Device"
 	}
 
-	if !ctx.noDefaultCompilerFlags() {
-		flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags, instructionSetFlags)
-		flags.ConlyFlags = append([]string{"${config.CommonGlobalConlyflags}"}, flags.ConlyFlags...)
+	flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags, instructionSetFlags)
+	flags.ConlyFlags = append([]string{"${config.CommonGlobalConlyflags}"}, flags.ConlyFlags...)
 
-		if flags.Clang {
-			flags.AsFlags = append(flags.AsFlags, tc.ClangAsflags())
-			flags.CppFlags = append([]string{"${config.CommonClangGlobalCppflags}"}, flags.CppFlags...)
-			flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags,
-				tc.ClangCflags(),
-				"${config.CommonClangGlobalCflags}",
-				fmt.Sprintf("${config.%sClangGlobalCflags}", hod))
-		} else {
-			flags.CppFlags = append([]string{"${config.CommonGlobalCppflags}"}, flags.CppFlags...)
-			flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags,
-				tc.Cflags(),
-				"${config.CommonGlobalCflags}",
-				fmt.Sprintf("${config.%sGlobalCflags}", hod))
-		}
-
-		if Bool(ctx.AConfig().ProductVariables.Brillo) {
-			flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags, "-D__BRILLO__")
-		}
-
-		if ctx.Device() {
-			if Bool(compiler.Properties.Rtti) {
-				flags.CppFlags = append(flags.CppFlags, "-frtti")
-			} else {
-				flags.CppFlags = append(flags.CppFlags, "-fno-rtti")
-			}
-		}
-
-		flags.AsFlags = append(flags.AsFlags, "-D__ASSEMBLY__")
-
-		if flags.Clang {
-			flags.CppFlags = append(flags.CppFlags, tc.ClangCppflags())
-		} else {
-			flags.CppFlags = append(flags.CppFlags, tc.Cppflags())
-		}
-
-		flags.YasmFlags = append(flags.YasmFlags, tc.YasmFlags())
+	if flags.Clang {
+		flags.AsFlags = append(flags.AsFlags, tc.ClangAsflags())
+		flags.CppFlags = append([]string{"${config.CommonClangGlobalCppflags}"}, flags.CppFlags...)
+		flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags,
+			tc.ClangCflags(),
+			"${config.CommonClangGlobalCflags}",
+			fmt.Sprintf("${config.%sClangGlobalCflags}", hod))
+	} else {
+		flags.CppFlags = append([]string{"${config.CommonGlobalCppflags}"}, flags.CppFlags...)
+		flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags,
+			tc.Cflags(),
+			"${config.CommonGlobalCflags}",
+			fmt.Sprintf("${config.%sGlobalCflags}", hod))
 	}
 
+	if Bool(ctx.AConfig().ProductVariables.Brillo) {
+		flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags, "-D__BRILLO__")
+	}
+
+	if ctx.Device() {
+		if Bool(compiler.Properties.Rtti) {
+			flags.CppFlags = append(flags.CppFlags, "-frtti")
+		} else {
+			flags.CppFlags = append(flags.CppFlags, "-fno-rtti")
+		}
+	}
+
+	flags.AsFlags = append(flags.AsFlags, "-D__ASSEMBLY__")
+
+	if flags.Clang {
+		flags.CppFlags = append(flags.CppFlags, tc.ClangCppflags())
+	} else {
+		flags.CppFlags = append(flags.CppFlags, tc.Cppflags())
+	}
+
+	flags.YasmFlags = append(flags.YasmFlags, tc.YasmFlags())
+
 	if flags.Clang {
 		flags.GlobalFlags = append(flags.GlobalFlags, tc.ToolchainClangCflags())
 	} else {
diff --git a/cc/config/arm64_device.go b/cc/config/arm64_device.go
index 390936a40..13e9a08ba 100644
--- a/cc/config/arm64_device.go
+++ b/cc/config/arm64_device.go
@@ -23,49 +23,26 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	arm64Cflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing",
-		"-fstack-protector-strong",
-		"-ffunction-sections",
 		"-fdata-sections",
-		"-funwind-tables",
-		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
-		"-Werror=format-security",
-		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
 		"-fno-short-enums",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
-		"-fno-canonical-system-headers",
 
 		// Help catch common 32/64-bit errors.
-		"-Werror=pointer-to-int-cast",
-		"-Werror=int-to-pointer-cast",
 		"-Werror=implicit-function-declaration",
 
 		"-fno-strict-volatile-bitfields",
 
 		// TARGET_RELEASE_CFLAGS
-		"-DNDEBUG",
-		"-O2 -g",
-		"-Wstrict-aliasing=2",
 		"-fgcse-after-reload",
 		"-frerun-cse-after-loop",
 		"-frename-registers",
 	}
 
 	arm64Ldflags = []string{
-		"-Wl,-z,noexecstack",
-		"-Wl,-z,relro",
-		"-Wl,-z,now",
-		"-Wl,--build-id=md5",
-		"-Wl,--warn-shared-textrel",
-		"-Wl,--fatal-warnings",
 		"-Wl,-m,aarch64_elf64_le_vec",
 		"-Wl,--hash-style=gnu",
 		"-Wl,--fix-cortex-a53-843419",
 		"-fuse-ld=gold",
 		"-Wl,--icf=safe",
-		"-Wl,--no-undefined-version",
 	}
 
 	arm64Cppflags = []string{
diff --git a/cc/config/arm_device.go b/cc/config/arm_device.go
index 7110ccb52..2c439f061 100644
--- a/cc/config/arm_device.go
+++ b/cc/config/arm_device.go
@@ -28,29 +28,18 @@ var (
 	}
 
 	armCflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-ffunction-sections",
 		"-fdata-sections",
-		"-funwind-tables",
-		"-fstack-protector-strong",
-		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
-		"-Werror=format-security",
-		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
 		"-fno-short-enums",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
-		"-fno-canonical-system-headers",
 
 		"-fno-builtin-sin",
 		"-fno-strict-volatile-bitfields",
 
 		// TARGET_RELEASE_CFLAGS
-		"-DNDEBUG",
-		"-g",
-		"-Wstrict-aliasing=2",
 		"-fgcse-after-reload",
 		"-frerun-cse-after-loop",
 		"-frename-registers",
+
+		"-fomit-frame-pointer",
 	}
 
 	armCppflags = []string{
@@ -58,21 +47,12 @@ var (
 	}
 
 	armLdflags = []string{
-		"-Wl,-z,noexecstack",
-		"-Wl,-z,relro",
-		"-Wl,-z,now",
-		"-Wl,--build-id=md5",
-		"-Wl,--warn-shared-textrel",
-		"-Wl,--fatal-warnings",
 		"-Wl,--icf=safe",
 		"-Wl,--hash-style=gnu",
-		"-Wl,--no-undefined-version",
 		"-Wl,-m,armelf",
 	}
 
 	armArmCflags = []string{
-		"-O2",
-		"-fomit-frame-pointer",
 		"-fstrict-aliasing",
 		"-funswitch-loops",
 	}
@@ -80,8 +60,6 @@ var (
 	armThumbCflags = []string{
 		"-mthumb",
 		"-Os",
-		"-fomit-frame-pointer",
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing",
 	}
 
 	armArchVariantCflags = map[string][]string{
diff --git a/cc/config/global.go b/cc/config/global.go
index dae218c16..7362f2e51 100644
--- a/cc/config/global.go
+++ b/cc/config/global.go
@@ -34,9 +34,19 @@ var (
 		"-Winit-self",
 		"-Wpointer-arith",
 
-		// COMMON_RELEASE_CFLAGS
+		// Make paths in deps files relative
+		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
+
 		"-DNDEBUG",
 		"-UDEBUG",
+
+		"-fno-exceptions",
+		"-Wno-multichar",
+
+		"-O2",
+		"-g",
+
+		"-fno-strict-aliasing",
 	}
 
 	commonGlobalConlyflags = []string{}
@@ -44,16 +54,37 @@ var (
 	deviceGlobalCflags = []string{
 		"-fdiagnostics-color",
 
-		// TARGET_ERROR_FLAGS
+		"-fno-canonical-system-headers",
+		"-ffunction-sections",
+		"-funwind-tables",
+		"-fstack-protector-strong",
+		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
+		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
+
+		"-Wstrict-aliasing=2",
+
 		"-Werror=return-type",
 		"-Werror=non-virtual-dtor",
 		"-Werror=address",
 		"-Werror=sequence-point",
 		"-Werror=date-time",
+		"-Werror=format-security",
+	}
+
+	deviceGlobalLdflags = []string{
+		"-Wl,-z,noexecstack",
+		"-Wl,-z,relro",
+		"-Wl,-z,now",
+		"-Wl,--build-id=md5",
+		"-Wl,--warn-shared-textrel",
+		"-Wl,--fatal-warnings",
+		"-Wl,--no-undefined-version",
 	}
 
 	hostGlobalCflags = []string{}
 
+	hostGlobalLdflags = []string{}
+
 	commonGlobalCppflags = []string{
 		"-Wsign-promo",
 	}
@@ -91,7 +122,9 @@ func init() {
 	pctx.StaticVariable("CommonGlobalCflags", strings.Join(commonGlobalCflags, " "))
 	pctx.StaticVariable("CommonGlobalConlyflags", strings.Join(commonGlobalConlyflags, " "))
 	pctx.StaticVariable("DeviceGlobalCflags", strings.Join(deviceGlobalCflags, " "))
+	pctx.StaticVariable("DeviceGlobalLdflags", strings.Join(deviceGlobalLdflags, " "))
 	pctx.StaticVariable("HostGlobalCflags", strings.Join(hostGlobalCflags, " "))
+	pctx.StaticVariable("HostGlobalLdflags", strings.Join(hostGlobalLdflags, " "))
 	pctx.StaticVariable("NoOverrideGlobalCflags", strings.Join(noOverrideGlobalCflags, " "))
 
 	pctx.StaticVariable("CommonGlobalCppflags", strings.Join(commonGlobalCppflags, " "))
diff --git a/cc/config/mips64_device.go b/cc/config/mips64_device.go
index e05dbf182..487b11a1a 100644
--- a/cc/config/mips64_device.go
+++ b/cc/config/mips64_device.go
@@ -22,32 +22,15 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	mips64Cflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-O2",
 		"-fomit-frame-pointer",
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing",
 		"-funswitch-loops",
 		"-Umips",
-		"-ffunction-sections",
 		"-fdata-sections",
-		"-funwind-tables",
-		"-fstack-protector-strong",
-		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
-		"-Werror=format-security",
-		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
-		"-fno-canonical-system-headers",
 
 		// Help catch common 32/64-bit errors.
-		"-Werror=pointer-to-int-cast",
-		"-Werror=int-to-pointer-cast",
 		"-Werror=implicit-function-declaration",
 
 		// TARGET_RELEASE_CFLAGS
-		"-DNDEBUG",
-		"-g",
-		"-Wstrict-aliasing=2",
 		"-fgcse-after-reload",
 		"-frerun-cse-after-loop",
 		"-frename-registers",
@@ -62,14 +45,7 @@ var (
 	}
 
 	mips64Ldflags = []string{
-		"-Wl,-z,noexecstack",
-		"-Wl,-z,relro",
-		"-Wl,-z,now",
-		"-Wl,--build-id=md5",
-		"-Wl,--warn-shared-textrel",
-		"-Wl,--fatal-warnings",
 		"-Wl,--allow-shlib-undefined",
-		"-Wl,--no-undefined-version",
 	}
 
 	mips64ArchVariantCflags = map[string][]string{
diff --git a/cc/config/mips_device.go b/cc/config/mips_device.go
index 78e95b6f2..f178b978c 100644
--- a/cc/config/mips_device.go
+++ b/cc/config/mips_device.go
@@ -22,27 +22,12 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	mipsCflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-O2",
 		"-fomit-frame-pointer",
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing",
 		"-funswitch-loops",
 		"-Umips",
-		"-ffunction-sections",
 		"-fdata-sections",
-		"-funwind-tables",
-		"-fstack-protector-strong",
-		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
-		"-Werror=format-security",
-		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
-		"-fno-canonical-system-headers",
 
 		// TARGET_RELEASE_CFLAGS
-		"-DNDEBUG",
-		"-g",
-		"-Wstrict-aliasing=2",
 		"-fgcse-after-reload",
 		"-frerun-cse-after-loop",
 		"-frename-registers",
@@ -58,14 +43,7 @@ var (
 	}
 
 	mipsLdflags = []string{
-		"-Wl,-z,noexecstack",
-		"-Wl,-z,relro",
-		"-Wl,-z,now",
-		"-Wl,--build-id=md5",
-		"-Wl,--warn-shared-textrel",
-		"-Wl,--fatal-warnings",
 		"-Wl,--allow-shlib-undefined",
-		"-Wl,--no-undefined-version",
 	}
 
 	mipsToolchainLdflags = []string{
diff --git a/cc/config/x86_64_device.go b/cc/config/x86_64_device.go
index a98001e3d..1eab9dd65 100644
--- a/cc/config/x86_64_device.go
+++ b/cc/config/x86_64_device.go
@@ -22,47 +22,19 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	x86_64Cflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-O2",
-		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
-		"-Werror=format-security",
-		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
-		"-Wstrict-aliasing=2",
-		"-ffunction-sections",
 		"-finline-functions",
 		"-finline-limit=300",
 		"-fno-short-enums",
-		"-fstrict-aliasing",
 		"-funswitch-loops",
-		"-funwind-tables",
-		"-fstack-protector-strong",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
-		"-fno-canonical-system-headers",
 
 		// Help catch common 32/64-bit errors.
-		"-Werror=pointer-to-int-cast",
-		"-Werror=int-to-pointer-cast",
 		"-Werror=implicit-function-declaration",
-
-		// TARGET_RELEASE_CFLAGS from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-O2",
-		"-g",
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing",
 	}
 
 	x86_64Cppflags = []string{}
 
 	x86_64Ldflags = []string{
-		"-Wl,-z,noexecstack",
-		"-Wl,-z,relro",
-		"-Wl,-z,now",
-		"-Wl,--build-id=md5",
-		"-Wl,--warn-shared-textrel",
-		"-Wl,--fatal-warnings",
-		"-Wl,--gc-sections",
 		"-Wl,--hash-style=gnu",
-		"-Wl,--no-undefined-version",
 	}
 
 	x86_64ArchVariantCflags = map[string][]string{
diff --git a/cc/config/x86_darwin_host.go b/cc/config/x86_darwin_host.go
index 6d361b561..8d805c993 100644
--- a/cc/config/x86_darwin_host.go
+++ b/cc/config/x86_darwin_host.go
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	darwinCflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-
 		"-fdiagnostics-color",
 
 		"-fPIC",
@@ -38,10 +35,6 @@ var (
 		"-D__STDC_FORMAT_MACROS",
 		"-D__STDC_CONSTANT_MACROS",
 
-		// HOST_RELEASE_CFLAGS
-		"-O2", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-g",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
 		"-isysroot ${macSdkRoot}",
 		"-mmacosx-version-min=${macMinVersion}",
 		"-DMACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=${macMinVersion}",
diff --git a/cc/config/x86_device.go b/cc/config/x86_device.go
index 53d2265ca..8aea64d9c 100644
--- a/cc/config/x86_device.go
+++ b/cc/config/x86_device.go
@@ -22,28 +22,10 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	x86Cflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-O2",
-		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
-		"-Werror=format-security",
-		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
-		"-Wstrict-aliasing=2",
-		"-ffunction-sections",
 		"-finline-functions",
 		"-finline-limit=300",
 		"-fno-short-enums",
-		"-fstrict-aliasing",
 		"-funswitch-loops",
-		"-funwind-tables",
-		"-fstack-protector-strong",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
-		"-fno-canonical-system-headers",
-
-		// TARGET_RELEASE_CFLAGS from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-O2",
-		"-g",
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing",
 	}
 
 	x86ClangCflags = append(x86Cflags, []string{
@@ -58,15 +40,7 @@ var (
 	x86Cppflags = []string{}
 
 	x86Ldflags = []string{
-		"-Wl,-z,noexecstack",
-		"-Wl,-z,relro",
-		"-Wl,-z,now",
-		"-Wl,--build-id=md5",
-		"-Wl,--warn-shared-textrel",
-		"-Wl,--fatal-warnings",
-		"-Wl,--gc-sections",
 		"-Wl,--hash-style=gnu",
-		"-Wl,--no-undefined-version",
 	}
 
 	x86ArchVariantCflags = map[string][]string{
diff --git a/cc/config/x86_linux_bionic_host.go b/cc/config/x86_linux_bionic_host.go
index 277361b96..9f0bbbdf1 100644
--- a/cc/config/x86_linux_bionic_host.go
+++ b/cc/config/x86_linux_bionic_host.go
@@ -22,15 +22,11 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	linuxBionicCflags = ClangFilterUnknownCflags([]string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-
 		"-fdiagnostics-color",
 
 		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
 
 		"-fPIC",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
 
 		"-U_FORTIFY_SOURCE",
 		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
@@ -43,14 +39,8 @@ var (
 		"-fno-short-enums",
 		"-funswitch-loops",
 		"-funwind-tables",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
 		"-fno-canonical-system-headers",
 
-		// HOST_RELEASE_CFLAGS
-		"-O2", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-g",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-
 		// Tell clang where the gcc toolchain is
 		"--gcc-toolchain=${LinuxBionicGccRoot}",
 
@@ -65,7 +55,6 @@ var (
 		"-Wl,--build-id=md5",
 		"-Wl,--warn-shared-textrel",
 		"-Wl,--fatal-warnings",
-		"-Wl,--gc-sections",
 		"-Wl,--hash-style=gnu",
 		"-Wl,--no-undefined-version",
 
diff --git a/cc/config/x86_linux_host.go b/cc/config/x86_linux_host.go
index 88bd5140e..4f0506804 100644
--- a/cc/config/x86_linux_host.go
+++ b/cc/config/x86_linux_host.go
@@ -22,15 +22,11 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	linuxCflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-
 		"-fdiagnostics-color",
 
 		"-Wa,--noexecstack",
 
 		"-fPIC",
-		"-no-canonical-prefixes",
 
 		"-U_FORTIFY_SOURCE",
 		"-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2",
@@ -40,11 +36,6 @@ var (
 		//See bug 12708004.
 		"-D__STDC_FORMAT_MACROS",
 		"-D__STDC_CONSTANT_MACROS",
-
-		// HOST_RELEASE_CFLAGS
-		"-O2", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-g",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
 	}
 
 	linuxLdflags = []string{
diff --git a/cc/config/x86_windows_host.go b/cc/config/x86_windows_host.go
index 270084e48..c9bafe61a 100644
--- a/cc/config/x86_windows_host.go
+++ b/cc/config/x86_windows_host.go
@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	windowsCflags = []string{
-		"-fno-exceptions", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-Wno-multichar",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-
 		"-DUSE_MINGW",
 		"-DWIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN",
 		"-Wno-unused-parameter",
@@ -43,11 +40,6 @@ var (
 		"-D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64",
 
 		"--sysroot ${WindowsGccRoot}/${WindowsGccTriple}",
-
-		// HOST_RELEASE_CFLAGS
-		"-O2", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-g",  // from build/core/combo/select.mk
-		"-fno-strict-aliasing", // from build/core/combo/select.mk
 	}
 
 	windowsIncludeFlags = []string{
diff --git a/cc/linker.go b/cc/linker.go
index 1cf3f6137..fae55425b 100644
--- a/cc/linker.go
+++ b/cc/linker.go
@@ -196,38 +196,42 @@ func (linker *baseLinker) linkerDeps(ctx BaseModuleContext, deps Deps) Deps {
 func (linker *baseLinker) linkerFlags(ctx ModuleContext, flags Flags) Flags {
 	toolchain := ctx.toolchain()
 
-	if !ctx.noDefaultCompilerFlags() {
-		if Bool(linker.Properties.Allow_undefined_symbols) {
-			if ctx.Darwin() {
-				// darwin defaults to treating undefined symbols as errors
-				flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, "-Wl,-undefined,dynamic_lookup")
-			}
-		} else if !ctx.Darwin() {
-			flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, "-Wl,--no-undefined")
+	hod := "Host"
+	if ctx.Os().Class == android.Device {
+		hod = "Device"
+	}
+
+	flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, fmt.Sprintf("${config.%sGlobalLdflags}", hod))
+	if Bool(linker.Properties.Allow_undefined_symbols) {
+		if ctx.Darwin() {
+			// darwin defaults to treating undefined symbols as errors
+			flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, "-Wl,-undefined,dynamic_lookup")
 		}
+	} else if !ctx.Darwin() {
+		flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, "-Wl,--no-undefined")
+	}
 
-		if flags.Clang {
-			flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, toolchain.ClangLdflags())
-		} else {
-			flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, toolchain.Ldflags())
-		}
+	if flags.Clang {
+		flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, toolchain.ClangLdflags())
+	} else {
+		flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, toolchain.Ldflags())
+	}
 
-		if !ctx.toolchain().Bionic() {
-			CheckBadHostLdlibs(ctx, "host_ldlibs", linker.Properties.Host_ldlibs)
+	if !ctx.toolchain().Bionic() {
+		CheckBadHostLdlibs(ctx, "host_ldlibs", linker.Properties.Host_ldlibs)
 
-			flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, linker.Properties.Host_ldlibs...)
+		flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, linker.Properties.Host_ldlibs...)
 
-			if !ctx.Windows() {
-				// Add -ldl, -lpthread, -lm and -lrt to host builds to match the default behavior of device
-				// builds
-				flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags,
-					"-ldl",
-					"-lpthread",
-					"-lm",
-				)
-				if !ctx.Darwin() {
-					flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, "-lrt")
-				}
+		if !ctx.Windows() {
+			// Add -ldl, -lpthread, -lm and -lrt to host builds to match the default behavior of device
+			// builds
+			flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags,
+				"-ldl",
+				"-lpthread",
+				"-lm",
+			)
+			if !ctx.Darwin() {
+				flags.LdFlags = append(flags.LdFlags, "-lrt")
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/cc/makevars.go b/cc/makevars.go
index 295b4ac00..f84ae24e2 100644
--- a/cc/makevars.go
+++ b/cc/makevars.go
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ func makeVarsToolchain(ctx android.MakeVarsContext, secondPrefix string,
 		toolchain.Cppflags(),
 	}, " "))
 	ctx.Strict(makePrefix+"GLOBAL_LDFLAGS", strings.Join([]string{
+		fmt.Sprintf("${config.%sGlobalLdflags}", hod),
 		toolchain.Ldflags(),
 		toolchain.ToolchainLdflags(),
 		productExtraLdflags,
@@ -219,6 +220,7 @@ func makeVarsToolchain(ctx android.MakeVarsContext, secondPrefix string,
 			toolchain.ClangCppflags(),
 		}, " "))
 		ctx.Strict(clangPrefix+"GLOBAL_LDFLAGS", strings.Join([]string{
+			fmt.Sprintf("${config.%sGlobalLdflags}", hod),
 			toolchain.ClangLdflags(),
 			toolchain.ToolchainClangLdflags(),
 			productExtraLdflags,
diff --git a/cc/object.go b/cc/object.go
index 402b1050b..2246dd303 100644
--- a/cc/object.go
+++ b/cc/object.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func (object *objectLinker) linkerProps() []interface{} {
 func (*objectLinker) linkerInit(ctx BaseModuleContext) {}
 
 func (object *objectLinker) linkerDeps(ctx DepsContext, deps Deps) Deps {
-	if !ctx.noDefaultCompilerFlags() && ctx.toolchain().Bionic() {
+	if ctx.useVndk() && ctx.toolchain().Bionic() {
 		// Needed for VNDK builds where bionic headers aren't automatically added.
 		deps.LateSharedLibs = append(deps.LateSharedLibs, "libc")
 	}