diff --git a/include/cmake.mk b/include/cmake.mk
index c83be1522e..22255acf59 100644
--- a/include/cmake.mk
+++ b/include/cmake.mk
@@ -3,10 +3,17 @@ PKG_INSTALL:=1
 MAKE_FLAGS+=VERBOSE=1
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_CCACHE),)
+ ifeq ($(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAIN),)
   CMAKE_C_COMPILER:=$(TOOLCHAIN_DIR)/bin/$(TARGET_CC)
   CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ARG1:=
   CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:=$(TOOLCHAIN_DIR)/bin/$(TARGET_CXX)
   CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ARG1:=
+ else
+  CMAKE_C_COMPILER:=$(shell which $(TARGET_CC))
+  CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ARG1:=
+  CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:=$(shell which $(TARGET_CXX))
+  CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ARG1:=
+ endif
 else
   CMAKE_C_COMPILER:=$(STAGING_DIR_HOST)/bin/ccache
   CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ARG1:=$(filter-out ccache,$(TARGET_CC))