diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 6f8bd81..0dd1057 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ ifeq ($(RLIMIT_STACK_VAL),unlimited)
 RLIMIT_STACK_VAL := 1024
 endif
 
-TARGET := $(shell $(CC) -dumpmachine)
+TARGET ?= $(shell $(CC) -dumpmachine)
 # Get 'uname -m'-like architecture description for target
 TARGET_ARCH := $(shell echo $(TARGET) | cut -f1 -d- | tr [A-Z] [a-z])
 TARGET_ARCH := $(shell echo $(TARGET_ARCH) | sed 's/powerpc/ppc/')