diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index fc05670c19..cbd1e62c37 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char* argv[]) {
     app.add_flag("--coreneuron", coreneuron_code, "Generate C++ code for CoreNEURON (Default)");
 
     auto host_opt = app.add_subcommand("host", "HOST/CPU code backends")->ignore_case();
-    host_opt->add_flag("--c", cpp_backend, fmt::format("C++ backend ({})", cpp_backend))
+    host_opt->add_flag("--c,--cpp", cpp_backend, fmt::format("C++ backend ({})", cpp_backend))
         ->ignore_case();
 
     auto acc_opt = app.add_subcommand("acc", "Accelerator code backends")->ignore_case();