diff --git a/coregrind/m_dispatch/Makefile.am b/coregrind/m_dispatch/Makefile.am
index 84d5a201b..7fcbc8800 100644
--- a/coregrind/m_dispatch/Makefile.am
+++ b/coregrind/m_dispatch/Makefile.am
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ libdispatch_a_SOURCES = \
 dispatch-@VG_ARCH@.S: libvex_guest_offsets.h
 
 libvex_guest_offsets.h:
-	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC=$(CC) pub/libvex_guest_offsets.h
+	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" pub/libvex_guest_offsets.h
diff --git a/coregrind/m_syswrap/Makefile.am b/coregrind/m_syswrap/Makefile.am
index a0e7d2eee..b1033a408 100644
--- a/coregrind/m_syswrap/Makefile.am
+++ b/coregrind/m_syswrap/Makefile.am
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ syscall-@VG_PLATFORM@.S: libvex_guest_offsets.h
 syswrap-main.c: libvex_guest_offsets.h
 
 libvex_guest_offsets.h:
-	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC=$(CC) pub/libvex_guest_offsets.h
+	$(MAKE) -C @VEX_DIR@ CC="$(CC)" pub/libvex_guest_offsets.h