diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 10571db2078..90f7433d7e2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -267,8 +267,8 @@ CONFIG_SHELL := $(shell if [ -x "$$BASH" ]; then echo $$BASH; \
 	  else if [ -x /bin/bash ]; then echo /bin/bash; \
 	  else echo sh; fi ; fi)
 
-HOSTCC       = gcc
-HOSTCXX      = g++
+HOSTCC       ?= gcc
+HOSTCXX      ?= g++
 HOSTCFLAGS   = -Wall -Wmissing-prototypes -Wstrict-prototypes -O2 -fomit-frame-pointer -std=gnu89
 HOSTCXXFLAGS = -O2