# https://bugs.gentoo.org/738110

diff --git a/make/configure.py b/make/configure.py
index 87118fcbe..df869856d 100644
--- a/make/configure.py
+++ b/make/configure.py
@@ -1626,14 +1626,14 @@ try:
 
     ## create tools in a scope
     class Tools:
-        ar         = ToolProbe( 'AR.exe',         'ar',         'ar', abort=True )
+        ar         = ToolProbe( 'AR.exe',         'ar',         os.environ.get('AR', 'ar'), abort=True )
         cp         = ToolProbe( 'CP.exe',         'cp',         'cp', abort=True )
         m4         = ToolProbe( 'M4.exe',         'm4',         'gm4', 'm4', abort=True )
         mkdir      = ToolProbe( 'MKDIR.exe',      'mkdir',      'mkdir', abort=True )
         patch      = ToolProbe( 'PATCH.exe',      'patch',      'gpatch', 'patch', abort=True )
         rm         = ToolProbe( 'RM.exe',         'rm',         'rm', abort=True )
-        ranlib     = ToolProbe( 'RANLIB.exe',     'ranlib',     'ranlib', abort=True )
-        strip      = ToolProbe( 'STRIP.exe',      'strip',      'strip', abort=True )
+        ranlib     = ToolProbe( 'RANLIB.exe',     'ranlib',     os.environ.get('RANLIB', 'ranlib'), abort=True )
+        strip      = ToolProbe( 'STRIP.exe',      'strip',      os.environ.get('STRIP', 'strip'), abort=True )
         tar        = ToolProbe( 'TAR.exe',        'tar',        'gtar', 'tar', abort=True )
         python     = ToolProbe( 'PYTHON.exe',     'python',     os.path.basename(sys.executable), abort=True )