diff --git a/build-infer.sh b/build-infer.sh
index 0ed252157..813dd29d2 100755
--- a/build-infer.sh
+++ b/build-infer.sh
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ fi
 
 setup_opam () {
     opam var root 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null || opam init --reinit --bare --no-setup
-    opam_switch_create_if_needed "$INFER_OPAM_SWITCH"
+    opam_switch_create_if_needed "$INFER_OPAM_SWITCH" "$INFER_OPAM_COMPILER"
     opam switch set "$INFER_OPAM_SWITCH"
 }
 
diff --git a/scripts/opam_utils.sh b/scripts/opam_utils.sh
index 0c3af420c..07b26be50 100644
--- a/scripts/opam_utils.sh
+++ b/scripts/opam_utils.sh
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ opam_require_version_2 () {
 # assumes opam is available and initialized
 opam_switch_create_if_needed () {
     local switch=$1
+    local compiler=$2
     local switch_exists=no
     for installed_switch in $(opam switch list --short); do
         if [ "$installed_switch" == "$switch" ]; then
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ opam_switch_create_if_needed () {
         fi
     done
     if [ "$switch_exists" = "no" ]; then
-        opam switch create "$switch"
+        opam switch create "$switch" "$compiler"
     fi
 }