diff --git a/tools/lib/lk/Makefile b/tools/lib/lk/Makefile
index 2c5a19733357..f0ecc0a13300 100644
--- a/tools/lib/lk/Makefile
+++ b/tools/lib/lk/Makefile
@@ -3,6 +3,21 @@ include ../../scripts/Makefile.include
 CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
 AR = $(CROSS_COMPILE)ar
 
+# Makefiles suck: This macro sets a default value of $(2) for the
+# variable named by $(1), unless the variable has been set by
+# environment or command line. This is necessary for CC and AR
+# because make sets default values, so the simpler ?= approach
+# won't work as expected.
+define allow-override
+  $(if $(or $(findstring environment,$(origin $(1))),\
+            $(findstring command line,$(origin $(1)))),,\
+    $(eval $(1) = $(2)))
+endef
+
+# Allow setting CC and AR, or setting CROSS_COMPILE as a prefix.
+$(call allow-override,CC,$(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc)
+$(call allow-override,AR,$(CROSS_COMPILE)ar)
+
 # guard against environment variables
 LIB_H=
 LIB_OBJS=