--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ else
 UNAME_M:=$(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)
 endif
 
+AR ?= ar
+RANLIB ?= ranlib
+
 # If you want to build for a kernel other than the current kernel, set KVERS
 ifndef KVERS
 KVERS:=$(shell uname -r)
@@ -352,8 +355,8 @@ ztspeed: CFLAGS=
 sethdlc-new: CFLAGS+=-I$(KINCLUDES)
 
 $(LTZ_A): $(LTZ_A_OBJS)
-	ar rcs $@ $^
-	ranlib $@
+	$(AR) rcs $@ $^
+	$(RANLIB) $@
 
 $(LTZ_SO): $(LTZ_SO_OBJS)
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -shared -Wl,-soname,$(LTZ_SO).$(LTZ_SO_MAJOR_VER).$(LTZ_SO_MINOR_VER) -o $@ $^ $(LDFLAGS) $(LDLIBS) -lm