diff --git a/ortools/sat/BUILD b/ortools/sat/BUILD
index 405b513848..9801b992e4 100644
--- a/ortools/sat/BUILD
+++ b/ortools/sat/BUILD
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ package(
     default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
 )
 
-COPTS=["-std=c++17"]
-
 proto_library(
     name = "sat_parameters_proto",
     srcs = ["sat_parameters.proto"],
diff --git a/ortools/sat/samples/BUILD b/ortools/sat/samples/BUILD
index f9d45858d4..0430947fc2 100644
--- a/ortools/sat/samples/BUILD
+++ b/ortools/sat/samples/BUILD
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 load(":code_samples.bzl", "code_sample_cc")
 
-COPTS=["-std=c++17"]
-
 code_sample_cc(name = "assignment_sat")
 
 code_sample_cc(name = "binpacking_problem_sat")