diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a4a33d4355..634b2ece05 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1515,7 +1515,7 @@ ifdef GETTEXT_POISON
 endif
 ifdef NO_GETTEXT
 	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DNO_GETTEXT
-	USE_GETTEXT_SCHEME = fallthrough
+	USE_GETTEXT_SCHEME ?= fallthrough
 endif
 ifdef NO_STRCASESTR
 	COMPAT_CFLAGS += -DNO_STRCASESTR