diff --git a/cmd/v/v.v b/cmd/v/v.v
index 48c9d671a2..1dcb73c0df 100644
--- a/cmd/v/v.v
+++ b/cmd/v/v.v
@@ -170,14 +170,17 @@ fn parse_args(args []string) (&pref.Preferences, string) {
 				res.backend = .x64
 			}
 			'-os' {
-				// TODO Remove `tmp` variable when it doesn't error out in C.
 				target_os := cmdline.option(current_args, '-os', '')
-				tmp := pref.os_from_string(target_os) or {
+				i++
+				target_os_kind := pref.os_from_string(target_os) or {
+					if target_os == 'cross' {
+						res.output_cross_c = true
+						continue
+					}
 					println('unknown operating system target `$target_os`')
 					exit(1)
 				}
-				res.os = tmp
-				i++
+				res.os = target_os_kind
 			}
 			'-cflags' {
 				res.cflags = cmdline.option(current_args, '-cflags', '')