diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 43d03e207..10fca3da1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # Makefile for building CoreDNS
-GITCOMMIT:=$(shell git describe --dirty --always)
+GITCOMMIT?=$(shell git describe --dirty --always)
 BINARY:=coredns
 SYSTEM:=
 CHECKS:=check
-BUILDOPTS:=-v
+BUILDOPTS?=-v
 GOPATH?=$(HOME)/go
 MAKEPWD:=$(dir $(realpath $(firstword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
 CGO_ENABLED?=0