diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/e/esmf.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/e/esmf.py
index 037eded64c..3d05fedec8 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/e/esmf.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/e/esmf.py
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ def configure_step(self):
             compiler = comp_family.lower()
         env.setvar('ESMF_COMPILER', compiler)
 
+        env.setvar('ESMF_F90COMPILEOPTS', os.getenv('F90FLAGS'))
+        env.setvar('ESMF_CXXCOMPILEOPTS', os.getenv('CXXFLAGS'))
+
         # specify MPI communications library
         comm = None
         mpi_family = self.toolchain.mpi_family()