--- a/build/Makefile
+++ b/build/Makefile
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ LEX = flex
 LFLAGS = -8
 YACC = bison
 YFLAGS = -d
-CC = gcc
+CC ?= gcc
 IFLAGS = -I$(COMMON_DIR) -I$(MAIN_DIR) -I$(BUILD_DIR) 
 ifneq ($(strip $(LOCALES)),)
 MOFLAGS = -DMO_DIR=\"$(MO_DIR)\"