diff --git a/cime_config/buildlib b/cime_config/buildlib
index d90b500b99..b706248ca2 100755
--- a/cime_config/buildlib
+++ b/cime_config/buildlib
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from standard_script_setup import *
 from CIME.case import Case
 from CIME.utils import expect, run_cmd
 from CIME.buildlib import parse_input
+from CIME.build import get_standard_makefile_args
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -57,8 +58,8 @@ def _build_cice():
         complib = os.path.join(libroot,"libice.a")
         makefile = os.path.join(casetools, "Makefile")
 
-        cmd = "%s complib -j %d MODEL=cice COMPLIB=%s -f %s USER_CPPDEFS=\"%s\"" \
-            % (gmake, gmake_j, complib, makefile, cice_cppdefs )
+        cmd = "{} complib -j {} MODEL=cice COMPLIB={} -f {} USER_CPPDEFS=\"{}\" {} " \
+            .format(gmake, gmake_j, complib, makefile, cice_cppdefs, get_standard_makefile_args(case))
 
         rc, out, err = run_cmd(cmd, from_dir=bldroot)
         expect(rc == 0, "Command %s failed rc=%d\nout=%s\nerr=%s" % (cmd, rc, out, err))