--- a/lib/Makefile.in
+++ b/lib/Makefile.in
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ installdirs = $(libdir) $(includedir) $(includedir)/libelf
 
 CC = @CC@
 LD = @LD@
-AR = ar
+AR ?= ar
 MV = mv -f
 RM = rm -f
 LN_S = @LN_S@