diff --git a/Makefile.linux b/Makefile.linux
index 3d433bd..bf8ed3d 100644
--- a/Makefile.linux
+++ b/Makefile.linux
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ ttcalc : ttcalc.o ax25_pad.o fcs_calc.o textcolor.o misc.a
 # UTM, USNG, MGRS conversions.
 
 geotranz.a : error_string.o  mgrs.o  polarst.o  tranmerc.o  ups.o  usng.o  utm.o
-	ar -cr $@ $^
+	$(AR) -cr $@ $^
 
 error_string.o : geotranz/error_string.c
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $^
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ utm.o : geotranz/utm.c
 # We don't need the others in that same directory.
 
 misc.a : strlcpy.o strlcat.o
-	ar -cr $@ $^	
+	$(AR) -cr $@ $^
  
 strlcpy.o : misc/strlcpy.c
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -I. -c -o $@ $^