diff --git a/test/Makefile.local b/test/Makefile.local
index 6cb6c829..fa2df734 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.local
+++ b/test/Makefile.local
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ $(dir)/smtp-dummy: $(smtp_dummy_modules)
 	$(call quiet,CC) $^ -o $@
 
 $(dir)/symbol-test: $(dir)/symbol-test.o
-	$(call quiet,CC) $^ -o $@ -Llib -lnotmuch -lxapian
+	$(call quiet,CXX) $^ -o $@ -Llib -lnotmuch -lxapian
 
 .PHONY: test check