diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/cc-mode.el b/lisp/progmodes/cc-mode.el
index 1150ebd33b5..23044b1f4f4 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/cc-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/cc-mode.el
@@ -265,6 +265,8 @@ control).  See \"cc-mode.el\" for more info."
     nil
 
   (setq c-mode-base-map (make-sparse-keymap))
+  (when (boundp 'prog-mode-map)
+    (c-set-keymap-parent c-mode-base-map prog-mode-map))
 
   ;; Separate M-BS from C-M-h.  The former should remain
   ;; backward-kill-word.