--- a/Makefile.rules.in
+++ b/Makefile.rules.in
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 CC	= @CC@
 CFLAGS	= -Wall @CPPFLAGS@ @CFLAGS@ -I$(TOPSRCDIR)
 LIBS	= @LIBS@
-LD_R	= ld -r
+LD_R	= $(LD) -r
 RM	= rm -f
 LDFLAGS = @LDFLAGS@