diff --git a/util/xcompile/xcompile b/util/xcompile/xcompile
index e079c9d81d..ebc346b56f 100755
--- a/util/xcompile/xcompile
+++ b/util/xcompile/xcompile
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ fi
 cat <<EOF
 # platform agnostic and host tools
 IASL:=${IASL}
-HOSTCC:=${HOSTCC}
+HOSTCC?=${HOSTCC}
 
 EOF