diff --git a/scipy/linalg/setup.py b/scipy/linalg/setup.py
index 0cbd5ffdf..dfd88fe70 100644
--- a/scipy/linalg/setup.py
+++ b/scipy/linalg/setup.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ def configuration(parent_package='', top_path=None):
     config.add_extension('_fblas',
                          sources=sources,
                          depends=depends,
+                         extra_f77_compile_args=['-O2'],
                          extra_info=lapack_opt
                          )
 
