diff --git a/libsepol/src/Makefile b/libsepol/src/Makefile
index 9b1f260..e10d356 100644
--- a/libsepol/src/Makefile
+++ b/libsepol/src/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 LIBDIR ?= $(PREFIX)/lib
 SHLIBDIR ?= $(DESTDIR)/lib
 RANLIB ?= ranlib
-LIBBASE=$(shell basename $(LIBDIR))
+LIBBASE ?= $(shell basename $(LIBDIR))
 
 VERSION = $(shell cat ../VERSION)
 LIBVERSION = 1