diff --git a/tools/lib/lk/Makefile b/tools/lib/lk/Makefile
index 280dd8205430..3dba0a4aebbf 100644
--- a/tools/lib/lk/Makefile
+++ b/tools/lib/lk/Makefile
@@ -3,21 +3,6 @@ include ../../scripts/Makefile.include
 CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
 AR = $(CROSS_COMPILE)ar
 
-# Makefiles suck: This macro sets a default value of $(2) for the
-# variable named by $(1), unless the variable has been set by
-# environment or command line. This is necessary for CC and AR
-# because make sets default values, so the simpler ?= approach
-# won't work as expected.
-define allow-override
-  $(if $(or $(findstring environment,$(origin $(1))),\
-            $(findstring command line,$(origin $(1)))),,\
-    $(eval $(1) = $(2)))
-endef
-
-# Allow setting CC and AR, or setting CROSS_COMPILE as a prefix.
-$(call allow-override,CC,$(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc)
-$(call allow-override,AR,$(CROSS_COMPILE)ar)
-
 # guard against environment variables
 LIB_H=
 LIB_OBJS=