diff --git a/tools/objtool/Makefile b/tools/objtool/Makefile
index 53f8be0f4a1f763e613b649aeac98399bd34eb69..88158239622bce38a7f27fb718123b8a62e03d09 100644
--- a/tools/objtool/Makefile
+++ b/tools/objtool/Makefile
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ ARCH := x86
 endif
 
 # always use the host compiler
+HOSTAR	?= ar
 HOSTCC	?= gcc
 HOSTLD	?= ld
+AR	 = $(HOSTAR)
 CC	 = $(HOSTCC)
 LD	 = $(HOSTLD)
-AR	 = ar
 
 ifeq ($(srctree),)
 srctree := $(patsubst %/,%,$(dir $(CURDIR)))