diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 811303ed45..10ca4d6a35 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ def host_arch_cc():
     # would be xlc so hard code gcc
     k = cc_macros('gcc')
   else:
-    k = cc_macros()
+    k = cc_macros(os.environ.get('CC_host'))
 
   matchup = {
     '__aarch64__' : 'arm64',