diff --git a/icu4c/source/config/mh-alpha-linux-gcc b/icu4c/source/config/mh-alpha-linux-gcc
index 9f72768c512..b21331031ee 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/config/mh-alpha-linux-gcc
+++ b/icu4c/source/config/mh-alpha-linux-gcc
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ STATIC_O = ao
 %.$(SO): %.$(SO).$(SO_TARGET_VERSION_MAJOR)
 	$(RM) $@ && ln -s ${*F}.$(SO).$(SO_TARGET_VERSION) $@
 
+# The type of assembly to write for generating an object file
+GENCCODE_ASSEMBLY=-a gcc
+
 ##  Bind internal references
 
 # LDflags that pkgdata will use