diff --git a/tools/lib/api/Makefile b/tools/lib/api/Makefile
index eb6e0b36bfc1..2538675731c7 100644
--- a/tools/lib/api/Makefile
+++ b/tools/lib/api/Makefile
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ srctree := $(patsubst %/,%,$(dir $(srctree)))
 #$(info Determined 'srctree' to be $(srctree))
 endif
 
-CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
-AR = $(CROSS_COMPILE)ar
-LD = $(CROSS_COMPILE)ld
+CC ?= $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
+AR ?= $(CROSS_COMPILE)ar
+LD ?= $(CROSS_COMPILE)ld
 
 MAKEFLAGS += --no-print-directory