diff --git a/abuild.in b/abuild.in
index 28699aa..1da5d92 100755
--- a/abuild.in
+++ b/abuild.in
@@ -1912,6 +1912,9 @@ fi
 [ -z "$CBUILD" ] && CBUILD="$CHOST"
 [ -z "$CTARGET" ] && CTARGET="$CHOST"
 
+# set a default CC
+export ${CC:=gcc}
+
 cd "$startdir" || die
 . "$APKBUILD"