diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index a4645fd..a7b82e2 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -8,11 +8,6 @@
 SUBDIRS=@CONTRIB_BUILD_LIST@
 SUBDIRS.all=$(SUBDIRS:=.all)

-# these will be overriden if the user specifies CXX or CXXFLAGS with configure
-# they will also be overriden by definitions in subsiduary Makefiles
-CXX=g++
-CXXFLAGS=-O2 -Wall -g
-
 # get any variables defined in the contrib-wide include
 -include .Makefile.inc
