diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 6ad1282..c345a49 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ ifndef CXXFLAGS
 CXXFLAGS = -Wall -O0 -g -fPIC -pthread -std=c++11 -I/usr/local/include -I/usr/include/postgresql -DEZC_USE_WINIX_LOGGER -DEZC_HAS_SPECIAL_STREAM
 endif
 
+ifndef AR
+AR = ar
+endif
 
 ifndef CXXWINIXINCLUDEFLAGS
 # these flags are used for compiling and making dependencies (make depend)