diff --git a/src/librustc_back/target/freebsd_base.rs b/src/librustc_back/target/freebsd_base.rs
index f035c039797d..5cf83e575794 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/target/freebsd_base.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/target/freebsd_base.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub fn opts() -> TargetOptions {
         executables: true,
         morestack: true,
         has_rpath: true,
-        archive_format: "".to_string(),
+        archive_format: "gnu".to_string(),
 
         .. Default::default()
     }