diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 89f04a04a2..20ce686fb6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ endef
 
 COMPILE_C = $(call COMPILE,CC)
 COMPILE_S = $(call COMPILE,AS)
+COMPILE_HOSTC = $(call COMPILE,HOSTCC)
 
 %.o: %.c
 	$(COMPILE_C)
diff --git a/common.mak b/common.mak
index 01c4b63748..6836c11241 100644
--- a/common.mak
+++ b/common.mak
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ checkheaders: $(HOBJS)
 alltools: $(TOOLS)
 
 $(HOSTOBJS): %.o: %.c
-	$(call COMPILE,HOSTCC)
+	$(COMPILE_HOSTC)
 
 $(HOSTPROGS): %$(HOSTEXESUF): %.o
 	$(HOSTLD) $(HOSTLDFLAGS) $(HOSTLD_O) $^ $(HOSTLIBS)