diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 877ae16c6..43d03e207 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ CHECKS:=check
 BUILDOPTS:=-v
 GOPATH?=$(HOME)/go
 MAKEPWD:=$(dir $(realpath $(firstword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
-CGO_ENABLED:=0
+CGO_ENABLED?=0
 
 .PHONY: all
 all: coredns