diff --git a/src/fpm_compiler.F90 b/src/fpm_compiler.F90
index 55565ee31d..adca4f658d 100644
--- a/src/fpm_compiler.F90
+++ b/src/fpm_compiler.F90
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ subroutine get_release_compile_flags(id, flags)
 
     case(id_intel_classic_mac)
         flags = &
-            flag_intel_opt//&
+          !  flag_intel_opt//&   ! commented to debug #980
             flag_intel_fp//&
             flag_intel_align//&
             flag_intel_limit//&