diff --git a/nc_cxx.cmake b/nc_cxx.cmake
index a11c45a..b926c72 100644
--- a/nc_cxx.cmake
+++ b/nc_cxx.cmake
@@ -29,10 +29,15 @@ append_compile_flag ("-std=c++2a")
 append_compile_flag ("-fpermissive")
 append_compile_flag ("/std:c++latest")
 
-# try to use clangs libc++ under the assumption that gcc will fail this test
-# and clang will pass (if it is present). this is necessary because some
-# libstdc++ headers don't behave well under c++17/clang.
-append_compile_flag ("-stdlib=libc++")
+
+if (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "Clang")
+    append_compile_flag ("-stdlib=libc++")
+    append_link_flag ("-fuse-ld=lld")
+endif ()
+
+if (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
+    append_link_flag ("-fuse-ld=gold")
+endif ()
 
 ###############################################################################
 # find the gcc or clang filesystem library and append to libs if needed