diff --git a/tests/Makefile b/tests/Makefile
index e3824ba..e6c5660 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile
+++ b/tests/Makefile
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ include $(TOP)/Makefile
 SRCDIR = $(top_srcdir)/tests
 VPATH = $(SRCDIR) $(top_srcdir)
 
+# clear CFLAGS and LDFLAGS
+CFLAGS :=
+LDFLAGS :=
+
 # what tests to run
 TESTS = \
  hello-exe \
diff --git a/tests/tests2/Makefile b/tests/tests2/Makefile
index bfd37e5..66d2f5a 100644
--- a/tests/tests2/Makefile
+++ b/tests/tests2/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 TOP = ../..
 include $(TOP)/Makefile
 
+# clear CFLAGS and LDFLAGS
+CFLAGS :=
+LDFLAGS :=
+
 ifdef CONFIG_WIN32
  TCCFLAGS = -B$(top_srcdir)/win32 -I$(top_srcdir)/include -L$(TOP)
 else