diff --git a/modules/src/assert/Makefile b/modules/src/assert/Makefile
index f3e2d0600..e36ab1cf2 100644
--- a/modules/src/assert/Makefile
+++ b/modules/src/assert/Makefile
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@ INCLUDES = -I$(HDIR)
 CFLAGS = $(INCLUDES) -O
 INSTALL = $(MODULES)/install
 COMPARE = $(MODULES)/compare
+AR = ar
 
 all:		libassert.a
 
 libassert.a:	BadAssert.o
-		ar r libassert.a BadAssert.o
+		$(AR) r libassert.a BadAssert.o
 		-sh -c 'ranlib libassert.a'
 
 install:	all