diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index 2512b6f..b6e532c 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ TARGETS	= basename cat chgrp chmod chown cksum cmp cp df dirname du echo false f
 PREFIX	= /usr/local
 DESTDIR	=
 BINDIR	= $(PREFIX)/bin
-CC	= cc
+CC	?= cc
 CPPFLAGSF?=
 CPPFLAGS?=
 CFLAGSF	= -W
diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index 9e9146e..8f19365 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ TARGETS	= utilbox
 PREFIX	= /usr/local
 DESTDIR	=
 BINDIR	= $(PREFIX)/bin
-CC	= cc
+CC	?= cc
 CPPFLAGSF?=
 CPPFLAGS?=
 CFLAGSF	= -W