diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index f05a61ace..4d118ccb1 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -92,8 +92,11 @@ arch_is_aarch64 <- function() {
 }
 
 # Returns the type of make command to use to compile depending on the OS
+# First checks if $MAKE is set, otherwise falls back to system-specific default
 make_cmd <- function() {
-  if (os_is_windows() && !os_is_wsl() && (Sys.getenv("CMDSTANR_USE_RTOOLS") == "")) {
+  if (Sys.getenv("MAKE") != "") {
+    Sys.getenv("MAKE")
+  } else if (os_is_windows() && !os_is_wsl() && (Sys.getenv("CMDSTANR_USE_RTOOLS") == "")) {
     "mingw32-make.exe"
   } else {
     "make"