diff --git a/util/ifdtool/Makefile b/util/ifdtool/Makefile
index d70080d551..e8d818c021 100644
--- a/util/ifdtool/Makefile
+++ b/util/ifdtool/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 PROGRAM = ifdtool
 
-CC      = gcc
+CC     ?= gcc
 INSTALL = /usr/bin/env install
 PREFIX  = /usr/local
 CFLAGS  = -O2 -g -Wall -Wextra -Wmissing-prototypes -Werror
diff --git a/util/nvramtool/Makefile b/util/nvramtool/Makefile
index 25962ef1d9..0d7f687f3b 100644
--- a/util/nvramtool/Makefile
+++ b/util/nvramtool/Makefile
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 PROGRAM = nvramtool
 
-CC      = gcc
+CC     ?= gcc
 INSTALL = /usr/bin/env install
 PREFIX  = /usr/local
 CFLAGS  = -O2 -g -Wall -Wextra -Wmissing-prototypes -I. -DCMOS_HAL=1