diff --git a/mesonbuild/coredata.py b/mesonbuild/coredata.py
index cdbf3c046..e94c02abc 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/coredata.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/coredata.py
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ class CoreData:
                 continue
             elif k in self.options:
                 self.set_option(k, v)
-            elif k.machine != MachineChoice.BUILD:
+            elif k.machine != MachineChoice.BUILD and k.type != OptionType.COMPILER:
                 unknown_options.append(k)
         if unknown_options:
             unknown_options_str = ', '.join(sorted(str(s) for s in unknown_options))