diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 780654b..9c57ebd 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -180,7 +180,6 @@
 ##################
 
 qemu_cflags = config_host['QEMU_CFLAGS'].split()
-qemu_cxxflags = config_host['QEMU_CXXFLAGS'].split()
 qemu_objcflags = config_host['QEMU_OBJCFLAGS'].split()
 qemu_ldflags = config_host['QEMU_LDFLAGS'].split()
 
@@ -194,7 +193,6 @@
 
 if get_option('gprof')
   qemu_cflags += ['-p']
-  qemu_cxxflags += ['-p']
   qemu_objcflags += ['-p']
   qemu_ldflags += ['-p']
 endif
@@ -240,8 +238,33 @@
 endif
 
 add_global_arguments(qemu_cflags, native: false, language: ['c'])
-add_global_arguments(qemu_cxxflags, native: false, language: ['cpp'])
 add_global_arguments(qemu_objcflags, native: false, language: ['objc'])
+
+# Check that the C++ compiler exists and works with the C compiler.
+link_language = 'c'
+linker = cc
+qemu_cxxflags = []
+if add_languages('cpp', required: false, native: false)
+  cxx = meson.get_compiler('cpp')
+  add_global_arguments(['-D__STDC_LIMIT_MACROS', '-D__STDC_CONSTANT_MACROS', '-D__STDC_FORMAT_MACROS'],
+                       native: false, language: 'cpp')
+  foreach k: qemu_cflags
+    if k not in ['-Wstrict-prototypes', '-Wmissing-prototypes', '-Wnested-externs',
+                 '-Wold-style-declaration', '-Wold-style-definition', '-Wredundant-decls']
+      qemu_cxxflags += [k]
+    endif
+  endforeach
+  add_global_arguments(qemu_cxxflags, native: false, language: 'cpp')
+
+  if cxx.links(files('scripts/main.c'), args: qemu_cflags)
+    link_language = 'cpp'
+    linker = cxx
+  else
+    message('C++ compiler does not work with C compiler')
+    message('Disabling C++-specific optional code')
+  endif
+endif
+
 add_global_link_arguments(qemu_ldflags, native: false, language: ['c', 'cpp', 'objc'])
 
 if targetos == 'linux'
@@ -255,14 +278,6 @@
                       '-iquote', meson.current_source_dir() / 'include',
                       language: ['c', 'cpp', 'objc'])
 
-link_language = meson.get_external_property('link_language', 'cpp')
-if link_language == 'cpp'
-  add_languages('cpp', required: true, native: false)
-  cxx = meson.get_compiler('cpp')
-  linker = cxx
-else
-  linker = cc
-endif
 if host_machine.system() == 'darwin'
   add_languages('objc', required: false, native: false)
 endif