diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bcd822d4b8..19ebd2a682 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ NON_MATCHING ?= 0
 # If ORIG_COMPILER is 1, compile with QEMU_IRIX and the original compiler
 ORIG_COMPILER ?= 0
 
+# Set prefix to mips binutils binaries (mips-linux-gnu-ld => 'mips-linux-gnu-') - Change at your own risk!
+# In nearly all cases, not having 'mips-linux-gnu-*' binaries on the PATH is indicative of missing dependencies
+MIPS_BINUTILS_PREFIX ?= mips-linux-gnu-
+
 ifeq ($(NON_MATCHING),1)
   CFLAGS := -DNON_MATCHING
   CPPFLAGS := -DNON_MATCHING
@@ -37,10 +41,8 @@ endif
 N_THREADS ?= $(shell nproc)
 
 #### Tools ####
-ifeq ($(shell type mips-linux-gnu-ld >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; echo $$?), 0)
-  MIPS_BINUTILS_PREFIX := mips-linux-gnu-
-else
-  $(error Please install or build mips-linux-gnu)
+ifneq ($(shell type $(MIPS_BINUTILS_PREFIX)ld >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; echo $$?), 0)
+  $(error Please install or build $(MIPS_BINUTILS_PREFIX))
 endif
 
 CC       := tools/ido_recomp/$(DETECTED_OS)/7.1/cc