diff --git a/util/atari/Makefile b/util/atari/Makefile
index 28efeafa1..db4226f69 100644
--- a/util/atari/Makefile
+++ b/util/atari/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 
+CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
+
+ifdef CROSS_COMPILE
+  $(info CC: $(CC))
+endif
+
+CFLAGS += -O3 -Wall -Wextra -Wno-char-subscripts $(USER_CFLAGS)
+
 .PHONY: mostlyclean clean
 
 atari: ataricvt
diff --git a/util/gamate/Makefile b/util/gamate/Makefile
index a6281de21..db2a1f059 100644
--- a/util/gamate/Makefile
+++ b/util/gamate/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 
+CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
+
+ifdef CROSS_COMPILE
+  $(info CC: $(CC))
+endif
+
+CFLAGS += -O3 -Wall -Wextra -Wno-char-subscripts $(USER_CFLAGS)
+
 .PHONY: mostlyclean clean
 
 gamate: gamate-fixcart
diff --git a/util/zlib/Makefile b/util/zlib/Makefile
index 75c67fb26..3770e1f3c 100644
--- a/util/zlib/Makefile
+++ b/util/zlib/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 
+CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
+
+ifdef CROSS_COMPILE
+  $(info CC: $(CC))
+endif
+
+CFLAGS += -O3 -Wall -Wextra -Wno-char-subscripts $(USER_CFLAGS)
+
 .PHONY: mostlyclean clean
 
 zlib: warning