diff --git a/configure b/configure
index fe005f68..e45734ab 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -442,7 +442,8 @@ Some influential environment variables:
                           mes-seed))
            (tinycc-prefix (or (getenv "TINYCC_PREFIX")
                               (string-append srcdest "../tinycc-prefix")))
-           (gcc (or (getenv "CC") "gcc"))
+           (cross? (not (equal? host-type build-type)))
+           (gcc (or (getenv "CC") (if cross? (string-append host-type "-" "gcc") "gcc")))
            (tcc (or (getenv "TCC") "tcc"))
            (mescc (or (getenv "MESCC") "mescc"))
            (deps (fold (lambda (program results)
@@ -510,9 +511,9 @@ Some influential environment variables:
                            deps)
                      deps))
            (system-libc? (and with-system-libc? (file-name "if cc can create executables" deps)))
-           (build-type (or (and cc (gulp-pipe* cc "-dumpmachine")) build-type))
-           (build-type-list (string-split build-type #\-))
-           (mes-cpu (car build-type-list))
+           (host-type (or (and cc (gulp-pipe* cc "-dumpmachine")) host-type))
+           (host-type-list (string-split host-type #\-))
+           (mes-cpu (car host-type-list))
            (mes-cpu (cond ((member mes-cpu '("i386" "i486" "i586" "i686")) "x86")
                           ((member mes-cpu '("arm" "armv4" "armv7l")) "arm")
                           (else mes-cpu)))
@@ -520,7 +521,7 @@ Some influential environment variables:
                          "32"))
            (mes-libc (if system-libc? "system" "mes"))
 
-           (kernel-list (filter (compose not (cut member <> '("pc" "unknown"))) (cdr build-type-list)))
+           (kernel-list (filter (compose not (cut member <> '("pc" "unknown"))) (cdr host-type-list)))
            (mes-kernel (cond ((or (equal? '("linux" "gnu") kernel-list)
                                   (equal? "linux" (car kernel-list))) "linux")
                              ((equal? '( "gnu") kernel-list) "gnu")