diff --git a/core/linux-headers/build b/core/linux-headers/build
index e4cb5109..45b23abb 100755
--- a/core/linux-headers/build
+++ b/core/linux-headers/build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh -e
 
-make HOSTCC="${CC:-cc}" headers
+make HOSTCC="$CC" headers
 
 # The headers require rsync for installation, this command
 # simply does the equivalent using find, mkdir and cp.