diff --git a/utils/Makefile b/utils/Makefile
index a9c4fac31..1bac4add0 100644
--- a/utils/Makefile
+++ b/utils/Makefile
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 
-PREFIX = /usr/local
+PREFIX ?= /usr/local
 BINDIR = $(DESTDIR)$(PREFIX)/bin
 
-CC = gcc
-CFLAGS = -O3 -Wall -I../modules/mqnic
+CC ?= gcc
+CFLAGS ?= -O3
+
+CFLAGS += -Wall
+CPPFLAGS += -I../modules/mqnic
 
 BIN = mqnic-config mqnic-dump mqnic-fw mqnic-bmc perout
 
 GENDEPFLAGS = -MD -MP -MF .$(@F).d
 
-ALL_CFLAGS = $(CFLAGS) $(GENDEPFLAGS)
+ALL_CFLAGS = $(CFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS) $(GENDEPFLAGS)
 
 all: $(BIN)
 
@@ -17,19 +20,19 @@ all: $(BIN)
 	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
 
 mqnic-config: mqnic-config.o mqnic.o timespec.o
-	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $^ -o $@
+	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $^ -o $@
 
 mqnic-dump: mqnic-dump.o mqnic.o
-	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $^ -o $@
+	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $^ -o $@
 
 mqnic-fw: mqnic-fw.o mqnic.o flash.o flash_spi.o flash_bpi.o fpga_id.o bitfile.o
-	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $^ -o $@
+	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $^ -o $@
 
 mqnic-bmc: mqnic-bmc.o mqnic.o
-	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $^ -o $@
+	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $^ -o $@
 
 perout: perout.o timespec.o
-	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $^ -o $@
+	$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $^ -o $@
 
 install:
 	install -d $(BINDIR)