diff --git a/arch/h8300/Makefile b/arch/h8300/Makefile
index 0d2d96e52d9f..e1c02ca230cb 100644
--- a/arch/h8300/Makefile
+++ b/arch/h8300/Makefile
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ KBUILD_CFLAGS += -DUTS_SYSNAME=\"uClinux\"
 KBUILD_AFLAGS += $(aflags-y)
 LDFLAGS += $(ldflags-y)
 
+ifeq ($(CROSS_COMPILE),)
 CROSS_COMPILE := h8300-unknown-linux-
+endif
 
 core-y	+= arch/$(ARCH)/kernel/ arch/$(ARCH)/mm/
 ifneq '$(CONFIG_H8300_BUILTIN_DTB)' '""'