diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f5abc3e..dd05487 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 ## mini_portile changelog
 
+### next / unreleased
+
+#### Added
+
+- When setting the C compiler through the `MiniPortile` constructor, the preferred keyword argument is now `:cc_command`. The original `:gcc_command` is still supported.
+
+
 ### 2.8.6 / 2024-04-14
 
 #### Added
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6642e53..f2d0df8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -85,21 +85,23 @@ system-wide installation.
 
 Some keyword arguments can be passed to the constructor to configure the commands used:
 
-#### `gcc_command`
+#### `cc_command`
 
 The compiler command that is used is configurable, and in order of preference will use:
 
 - the `CC` environment variable (if present)
-- the `gcc_command` value passed in to the constructor
+- the `:cc_command` keyword argument passed in to the constructor
 - `RbConfig::CONFIG["CC"]`
 - `"gcc"`
 
 You can pass it in like so:
 
 ``` ruby
-MiniPortile.new("libiconv", "1.13.1", gcc_command: "cc")
+MiniPortile.new("libiconv", "1.13.1", cc_command: "cc")
 ```
 
+For backwards compatibility, the constructor also supports a keyword argument `:gcc_command`.
+
 #### `make_command`
 
 The configuration/make command that is used is configurable, and in order of preference will use:
diff --git a/lib/mini_portile2/mini_portile.rb b/lib/mini_portile2/mini_portile.rb
index 335fa48..72df973 100644
--- a/lib/mini_portile2/mini_portile.rb
+++ b/lib/mini_portile2/mini_portile.rb
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def initialize(name, version, **kwargs)
     @logger = STDOUT
     @source_directory = nil
 
-    @gcc_command = kwargs[:gcc_command]
+    @cc_command = kwargs[:cc_command] || kwargs[:gcc_command]
     @make_command = kwargs[:make_command]
     @open_timeout = kwargs[:open_timeout] || DEFAULT_TIMEOUT
     @read_timeout = kwargs[:read_timeout] || DEFAULT_TIMEOUT
@@ -372,9 +372,10 @@ def lib_path
     File.join(path, "lib")
   end
 
-  def gcc_cmd
-    (ENV["CC"] || @gcc_command || RbConfig::CONFIG["CC"] || "gcc").dup
+  def cc_cmd
+    (ENV["CC"] || @cc_command || RbConfig::CONFIG["CC"] || "gcc").dup
   end
+  alias :gcc_cmd :cc_cmd
 
   def make_cmd
     (ENV["MAKE"] || @make_command || ENV["make"] || "make").dup
diff --git a/test/test_cook.rb b/test/test_cook.rb
index 414f3c6..031a43a 100644
--- a/test/test_cook.rb
+++ b/test/test_cook.rb
@@ -79,14 +79,22 @@ def test_make_command_configuration
     end
   end
 
-  def test_gcc_command_configuration
+  def test_cc_command_configuration
     without_env("CC") do
       expected_compiler = RbConfig::CONFIG["CC"] || "gcc"
+      assert_equal(expected_compiler, MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0").cc_cmd)
       assert_equal(expected_compiler, MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0").gcc_cmd)
+      assert_equal("xyzzy", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0", cc_command: "xyzzy").cc_cmd)
+      assert_equal("xyzzy", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0", gcc_command: "xyzzy").cc_cmd)
+      assert_equal("xyzzy", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0", cc_command: "xyzzy").gcc_cmd)
       assert_equal("xyzzy", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0", gcc_command: "xyzzy").gcc_cmd)
     end
     with_env("CC"=>"asdf") do
+      assert_equal("asdf", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0").cc_cmd)
       assert_equal("asdf", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0").gcc_cmd)
+      assert_equal("asdf", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0", cc_command: "xyzzy").cc_cmd)
+      assert_equal("asdf", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0", gcc_command: "xyzzy").cc_cmd)
+      assert_equal("asdf", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0", cc_command: "xyzzy").gcc_cmd)
       assert_equal("asdf", MiniPortile.new("test", "1.0.0", gcc_command: "xyzzy").gcc_cmd)
     end
   end