diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1b46c5ecc4..150c821144 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -2143,6 +2143,9 @@ if test "$cross_compiling" != "yes"; then
   if test "x$CFLAGS_FOR_BUILD" = "x"; then
     CFLAGS_FOR_BUILD="$CFLAGS"
   fi
+  if test "x$CPPFLAGS_FOR_BUILD" = "x"; then
+    CPPFLAGS_FOR_BUILD="$CPPFLAGS"
+  fi
 fi
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(vector-icons, [  --disable-vector-icons  use raster icons rather than vector ones (default=auto)], ,
diff --git a/tools/Makefile.am b/tools/Makefile.am
index d111eb7d0d..aafb81fcb7 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ test_clipboard_LDADD = $(GTK_LIBS)
 
 if ENABLE_VECTOR_ICONS
 invert-svg$(BUILD_EXEEXT): invert-svg.c
-	$(CC_FOR_BUILD) -o $@ $< $(NATIVE_GLIB_LIBS) $(CFLAGS_FOR_BUILD) $(LDFLAGS_FOR_BUILD) $(NATIVE_GLIB_CFLAGS)
+	$(CC_FOR_BUILD) -o $@ $< $(NATIVE_GLIB_LIBS) $(CPPFLAGS_FOR_BUILD) $(CFLAGS_FOR_BUILD) $(LDFLAGS_FOR_BUILD) $(NATIVE_GLIB_CFLAGS)
 
 
 # compute_svg_viewbox is not built or used because librsvg is just too buggy