--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -63,11 +63,13 @@ set(CODEBOOKSNEWAMP2_ENERGY
 
 # when crosscompiling we need a native executable
 if(CMAKE_CROSSCOMPILING)
+    set(NATIVE_C_COMPILER cc CACHE STRING "C compiler for the build host")
     set(CMAKE_DISABLE_SOURCE_CHANGES OFF)
     include(ExternalProject)
     ExternalProject_Add(codec2_native
        SOURCE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/..
        BINARY_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/codec2_native
+       CMAKE_ARGS -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${NATIVE_C_COMPILER} -DCMAKE_C_FLAGS= -DCMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS=
        BUILD_COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build . --target generate_codebook
        INSTALL_COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/codec2_native/src/generate_codebook ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}
        BUILD_BYPRODUCTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/generate_codebook