diff --git a/runtime/vm/BUILD.gn b/runtime/vm/BUILD.gn
index 30f1303f864..9abd6ee2085 100644
--- a/runtime/vm/BUILD.gn
+++ b/runtime/vm/BUILD.gn
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ config("libdart_vm_config") {
     if (!is_android) {
       libs += [ "pthread" ]
     }
-    if (!is_mac && !is_ios) {
+
+    # Clang with libc++ does not require an explicit atomic library reference.
+    # (similar to https://github.com/flutter/buildroot/blob/master/build/config/compiler/BUILD.gn#L562)
+    if (!is_clang) {
       libs += [ "atomic" ]
     }
   }