diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index cff066e05..ca043fc50 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ debug: $(LIBRARY_DEBUG_$(OS)) libkrun.pc
 ifeq ($(BUILD_INIT),1)
 INIT_BINARY = init/init
 $(INIT_BINARY): $(INIT_SRC)
-	gcc -O2 -static -Wall $(INIT_DEFS) -o $@ $(INIT_SRC) $(INIT_DEFS)
+	$(CC) -O2 -static -Wall $(INIT_DEFS) -o $@ $(INIT_SRC) $(INIT_DEFS)
 endif
 
 $(LIBRARY_RELEASE_$(OS)): $(INIT_BINARY)