--- a/Makefile_dist
+++ b/Makefile_dist
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ RMRF=rm -rf
 
 ######
 
-MAKE=make
-MAKEJ4=make -j4
+MAKE ?= $(MAKE)
+MAKEJ4 ?= $(MAKE)
 
 ######
 #
--- a/Makefile_dist
+++ b/Makefile_dist
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ LDFLAGS=
 #
 src2_patsopt: ; \
 $(MAKEJ4) -C src/CBOOT patsopt \
-CCOMP=$(CCOMP) GCFLAG=$(GCFLAG) LDFLAGS=$(LDFLAGS) 
+CCOMP="$(CCOMP)" GCFLAG="$(GCFLAG)" LDFLAGS="$(LDFLAGS)"
 #
 bin2_patsopt: src2_patsopt ; $(CPF) src/CBOOT/patsopt bin/patsopt
 #