diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5b266c8c..7b66cd51 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ CLEANLIBS = $(ARLIB)
 CLEANOBJS = $(OBJ_FILES)
 CLEANFILES = $(PGDIRBZ2)
 
-AR = ar rs
+AR ?= ar
+AR := $(AR) rs
 INSTALL = install
 LN_S = ln -s
 RM = rm -f