diff --git a/samples/bpf/Makefile b/samples/bpf/Makefile
index 57a15ff938a6..a6c33496e8ca 100644
--- a/samples/bpf/Makefile
+++ b/samples/bpf/Makefile
@@ -205,15 +205,14 @@ BTF_PAHOLE ?= pahole
 
 # Detect that we're cross compiling and use the cross compiler
 ifdef CROSS_COMPILE
-HOSTCC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
 CLANG_ARCH_ARGS = --target=$(notdir $(CROSS_COMPILE:%-=%))
 endif
 
 # Don't evaluate probes and warnings if we need to run make recursively
 ifneq ($(src),)
 HDR_PROBE := $(shell printf "\#include <linux/types.h>\n struct list_head { int a; }; int main() { return 0; }" | \
-	$(HOSTCC) $(KBUILD_HOSTCFLAGS) -x c - -o /dev/null 2>/dev/null && \
-	echo okay)
+	$(CC) $(TPROGS_CFLAGS) $(TPROGS_LDFLAGS) -x c - \
+	-o /dev/null 2>/dev/null && echo okay)
 
 ifeq ($(HDR_PROBE),)
 $(warning WARNING: Detected possible issues with include path.)