diff --git a/Makefile.win b/Makefile.win
index a2e5211..0785637 100644
--- a/Makefile.win
+++ b/Makefile.win
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@
 BUILDDIR = ../bin/
 PREFIX ?= 3proxy_
 CRYPT_PREFIX ?= $(PREFIX)
-CC ?= gcc
+# Override make's built-in CC=cc default; respect env/command-line overrides.
+ifeq ($(origin CC), default)
+CC = gcc
+endif
 CFLAGS ?= -O3 -flto
 CFLAGS += -fno-strict-aliasing -c -mthreads  -DWITH_WSAPOLL -DWITH_ODBC
 COUT = -o