diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4fb8ea840..cc87ea63f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ BUILD_VERBOSE := -v
 
 TEST_VERBOSE := -v
 
-DOCKER_IMAGE_NAME := $$USER/coredns
-DOCKER_VERSION := $(shell grep 'coreVersion' coremain/version.go | awk '{ print $$3 }' | tr -d '"')
+DOCKER_IMAGE_NAME ?= $$USER/coredns
+DOCKER_VERSION ?= $(shell grep 'coreVersion' coremain/version.go | awk '{ print $$3 }' | tr -d '"')
 
 all: coredns