diff --git a/tools/Makefile.am b/tools/Makefile.am
index c0b064953..5ef2535ad 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ COMMON_CFLAGS=\
 	$(STRICT_OPTIONS) \
 	$(LIBXML2_CFLAGS) 
 
-AM_CXXFLAGS=$(LIBXML2_CFLAGS) $(STRICT_OPTIONS)
+#-fpermissive to workaround a g++ bug on macos 32bit SDK.
+AM_CXXFLAGS=$(LIBXML2_CFLAGS) -fpermissive $(STRICT_OPTIONS) 
 
 EXTRA_DIST=xml2lpc_jni.cc lpc2xml_jni.cc