diff --git a/make.tmpl.in b/make.tmpl.in
index 0429f8874..36f992bbc 100644
--- a/make.tmpl.in
+++ b/make.tmpl.in
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ SHELL = /bin/sh
 INSTALL = @INSTALL@
 LN_S = @LN_S@
 LIBS = @LIBS@
-CFLAGS = @CFLAGS@
+CFLAGS += @CFLAGS@
 
 # Setup directory variables
 prefix = $(DESTDIR)@prefix@