diff --git a/build/scripts/build_cross_tools b/build/scripts/build_cross_tools
index eed12fea24..5926934a62 100755
--- a/build/scripts/build_cross_tools
+++ b/build/scripts/build_cross_tools
@@ -7,12 +7,18 @@
 
 # get and check the parameters
 if [ $# -lt 3 ]; then
-	echo Usage: $0 '<haiku sourcedir> <buildtools dir> <install dir>' >&2
+	echo Usage: $0 '<haiku sourcedir> <buildtools dir> <install dir>' \
+		'[extra make flags]' >&2
 	exit 1
 fi
 
 set -e
 
+if [ -z "$MAKE" ]; then
+	echo "MAKE undefined. Assuming make."
+	export MAKE=make
+fi
+
 haikuSourceDir=$1
 buildToolsDir=$2/legacy
 installDir=$3
diff --git a/build/scripts/build_cross_tools_gcc4 b/build/scripts/build_cross_tools_gcc4
index 4fff31ee66..7a4942d8d0 100755
--- a/build/scripts/build_cross_tools_gcc4
+++ b/build/scripts/build_cross_tools_gcc4
@@ -5,12 +5,22 @@
 # get and check the parameters
 if [ $# -lt 4 ]; then
 	echo Usage: $0 '<machine> <haiku sourcedir> <buildtools dir>' \
-		'<install dir>' >&2
+		'<install dir> [extra make flags]' >&2
 	exit 1
 fi
 
 set -e
 
+if [ -z "$MAKE" ]; then
+	echo "MAKE undefined. Assuming make."
+	export MAKE=make
+fi
+
+if [ -z "$HAIKU_USE_GCC_GRAPHITE" ]; then
+	echo "HAIKU_USE_GCC_GRAPHITE undefined. Assuming false"
+	export HAIKU_USE_GCC_GRAPHITE=0
+fi
+
 haikuMachine=$1
 haikuSourceDir=$2
 buildToolsDir=$3