diff --git a/tools/build/tests/ex/Makefile b/tools/build/tests/ex/Makefile
index c50d5782ad5a..027d6c8a58a7 100644
--- a/tools/build/tests/ex/Makefile
+++ b/tools/build/tests/ex/Makefile
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ex:
 include $(srctree)/tools/build/Makefile.include
 
 ex: ex-in.o libex-in.o
-	gcc -o $@ $^
+	$(CC) -o $@ $^
 
 ex.%: fixdep FORCE
 	make -f $(srctree)/tools/build/Makefile.build dir=. $@