diff --git a/SCons/Config/gnu b/SCons/Config/gnu
index 501c80aa..2e6016e2 100644
--- a/SCons/Config/gnu
+++ b/SCons/Config/gnu
@@ -124,6 +124,8 @@ def check_requirement(ctx, func, trigger):
 def add_file_to_emitter(env, emitter_name, file):
 	try:
 		original_emitter = env[emitter_name]
+		if type(original_emitter) == list:
+			original_emitter = original_emitter[0]
 	except KeyError:
 		original_emitter = None