diff --git a/sys/unix/Makefile.utl b/sys/unix/Makefile.utl
index 89fc4899b..4370ad61d 100644
--- a/sys/unix/Makefile.utl
+++ b/sys/unix/Makefile.utl
@@ -223,13 +223,13 @@ DLBOBJS = dlb_main.o $(OBJDIR)/dlb.o $(OALLOC)
 # files or on the command line.
 
 TARGETPFX=
-TARGET_CC = $(CC)
-TARGET_CFLAGS = $(CFLAGS) $(CSTD)
-TARGET_CLINK = $(CLINK)
-TARGET_LFLAGS = $(LFLAGS)
-TARGET_CXX = $(CXX)
-TARGET_CXXFLAGS = $(CXXFLAGS)
-TARGET_AR = $(AR)
+TARGET_CC ?= $(CC)
+TARGET_CFLAGS ?= $(CFLAGS) $(CSTD)
+TARGET_CLINK ?= $(CLINK)
+TARGET_LFLAGS ?= $(LFLAGS)
+TARGET_CXX ?= $(CXX)
+TARGET_CXXFLAGS ?= $(CXXFLAGS)
+TARGET_AR ?= $(AR)
 
 #
 #	dependencies for makedefs