diff --git a/arch/parisc/Makefile b/arch/parisc/Makefile
index 55cca1dac431..19ab7b2ea1cd 100644
--- a/arch/parisc/Makefile
+++ b/arch/parisc/Makefile
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ ifdef CONFIG_64BIT
 UTS_MACHINE	:= parisc64
 CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__LP64__=1 -m64
 WIDTH		:= 64
+
+# FIXME: if no default set, should really try to locate dynamically
+ifeq ($(CROSS_COMPILE),)
 CROSS_COMPILE	:= hppa64-linux-gnu-
+endif
 else # 32-bit
 WIDTH		:=
 endif