--- a/mk/clang.mk
+++ b/mk/clang.mk
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ifeq (${_INCLUDE_MK_CLANG_},)
 _INCLUDE_MK_CLANG_=1
 CC?=clang
-RANLIB=ranlib
+RANLIB?=ranlib
 ONELIB=0
 AR?=ar
 CC_AR=$(AR) q ${LIBAR}
--- a/mk/gcc.mk
+++ b/mk/gcc.mk
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 ifeq (${_INCLUDE_MK_GCC_},)
 _INCLUDE_MK_GCC_=1
 CC?=gcc
-OBJCOPY=objcopy
-RANLIB=ranlib
+OBJCOPY?=objcopy
+RANLIB?=ranlib
 ONELIB=0
 AR?=ar
 CC_AR=$(AR) q ${LIBAR}
