diff --git a/src/core/makefile.x/makefile.alsa b/src/core/makefile.x/makefile.alsa
index 5694257..577dd91 100644
--- a/src/core/makefile.x/makefile.alsa
+++ b/src/core/makefile.x/makefile.alsa
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 
-CFLAGS+= -D__LINUX_ALSA__ -D__PLATFORM_LINUX__ -O3 -fno-strict-aliasing -D__CK_SNDFILE_NATIVE__
+CFLAGS+= -D__LINUX_ALSA__ -D__PLATFORM_LINUX__ -fno-strict-aliasing -D__CK_SNDFILE_NATIVE__ -fPIC
 LDFLAGS+= -lasound -lstdc++ -ldl -lm -lsndfile -lpthread
 
diff --git a/src/core/makefile.x/makefile.jack b/src/core/makefile.x/makefile.jack
index 86b2511..442708b 100644
--- a/src/core/makefile.x/makefile.jack
+++ b/src/core/makefile.x/makefile.jack
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 
-CFLAGS+= -D__UNIX_JACK__ -D__PLATFORM_LINUX__ -O3 -fno-strict-aliasing -D__CK_SNDFILE_NATIVE__
+CFLAGS+= -D__UNIX_JACK__ -D__PLATFORM_LINUX__ -fno-strict-aliasing -D__CK_SNDFILE_NATIVE__ -fPIC
 LDFLAGS+= -lasound -ljack -lstdc++ -ldl -lm -lsndfile -lpthread
 
diff --git a/src/makefile b/src/makefile
index f52f0c2..310991a 100644
--- a/src/makefile
+++ b/src/makefile
@@ -76,11 +76,11 @@ CK_VERSION=1.4.1.1
 
 
 ########################### COMPILATION TOOLS ##################################
-LEX=flex
-YACC=bison
-CC=gcc
-CXX=g++
-LD=g++
+LEX?=flex
+YACC?=bison
+CC?=gcc
+CXX?=g++
+LD?=g++
 
 
 ############################# COMPILER FLAGS ###################################
@@ -92,8 +92,6 @@ endif
 
 ifneq ($(CHUCK_DEBUG),)
 CFLAGS+= -g
-else
-CFLAGS+= -O3
 endif
 
 ifneq ($(USE_64_BIT_SAMPLE),)