diff --git a/common.mak b/common.mak
index b22badda9d..f4b71ecfb1 100644
--- a/common.mak
+++ b/common.mak
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ endef
 COMPILE_C = $(call COMPILE,CC)
 COMPILE_CXX = $(call COMPILE,CXX)
 COMPILE_S = $(call COMPILE,AS)
+COMPILE_HOSTC = $(call COMPILE,HOSTCC)
 
 %.o: %.c
 	$(COMPILE_C)
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ checkheaders: $(HOBJS)
 alltools: $(TOOLS)
 
 $(HOSTOBJS): %.o: %.c
-	$(call COMPILE,HOSTCC)
+	$(COMPILE_HOSTC)
 
 $(HOSTPROGS): %$(HOSTEXESUF): %.o
 	$(HOSTLD) $(HOSTLDFLAGS) $(HOSTLD_O) $^ $(HOSTLIBS)