diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b0b626d5..7c5d87de 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 arch ?= x86_64
+target ?= $(arch)-unknown-linux-gnu
 kernel := build/kernel-$(arch).bin
 iso := build/os-$(arch).iso
 
-rust_os := target/debug/libblog_os.a
+rust_os := target/$(target)/debug/libblog_os.a
 linker_script := src/arch/$(arch)/linker.ld
 grub_cfg := src/arch/$(arch)/grub.cfg
 assembly_source_files := $(wildcard src/arch/$(arch)/*.asm)
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ $(kernel): cargo $(rust_os) $(assembly_object_files) $(linker_script)
 	@ld -n --gc-sections -T $(linker_script) -o $(kernel) $(assembly_object_files) $(rust_os)
 
 cargo:
-	@cargo rustc -- -Z no-landing-pads
+	@cargo rustc --target $(target) -- -Z no-landing-pads
 
 # compile assembly files
 build/arch/$(arch)/%.o: src/arch/$(arch)/%.asm