diff --git a/src/template/hpux b/src/template/hpux
index ce4d93ced7..79d3475664 100644
--- a/src/template/hpux
+++ b/src/template/hpux
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 # src/template/hpux
 
+# Need this for access to many modern library features
 CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -D_XOPEN_SOURCE_EXTENDED"
 
+# HP's compiler likes the spelling +O2 not -O2, so adjust default CFLAGS
 if test "$GCC" != yes ; then
-  CC="$CC -Ae"
   CFLAGS="+O2"
 fi