diff --git a/ports/qemu-arm/Makefile b/ports/qemu-arm/Makefile
index 4f12173c3..cb7dcb021 100644
--- a/ports/qemu-arm/Makefile
+++ b/ports/qemu-arm/Makefile
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ LDSCRIPT = mps2.ld
 SRC_BOARD_O = lib/utils/gchelper_m3.o
 endif
 
-CROSS_COMPILE = arm-none-eabi-
+CROSS_COMPILE ?= arm-none-eabi-
 
 INC += -I.
 INC += -I$(TOP)