diff --git a/abuild.in b/abuild.in
index 1428945..ed0cb03 100755
--- a/abuild.in
+++ b/abuild.in
@@ -1924,7 +1924,8 @@ fi
 [ -z "$CTARGET" ] && CTARGET="$CHOST"
 
 # set a default CC
-export ${CC:=gcc}
+: ${CC:=gcc}
+export CC
 
 cd "$startdir" || die
 . "$APKBUILD"