diff --git a/src/Make.clib b/src/Make.clib
index 9f72bcb626e..ebe4f84b961 100644
--- a/src/Make.clib
+++ b/src/Make.clib
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ $(QUOTED_GOROOT)/lib/$(LIB): $(LIB)
 	cp $(LIB) "$(GOROOT)/lib/$(LIB)"
 
 $(LIB): $(OFILES)
-	ar rsc $(LIB) $(OFILES)
+	$(HOST_AR) rsc $(LIB) $(OFILES)
 
 CLEANFILES+=y.tab.[ch] y.output a.out $(LIB)
 
diff --git a/src/Make.inc b/src/Make.inc
index 8096253d024..2d9ee29058c 100644
--- a/src/Make.inc
+++ b/src/Make.inc
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ HOST_CC=quietgcc
 HOST_LD=quietgcc
 HOST_O=o
 HOST_YFLAGS=-d
+HOST_AR?=ar
 
 # These two variables can be overridden in the environment
 # to build with other flags.  They are like $CFLAGS and $LDFLAGS