diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 708e61968..4c92bcb5c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -86,6 +86,15 @@ fi
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_CXX
 
+# To build programs to be run in the build machine
+if test "$CC_FOR_BUILD" = ""; then
+    if test "$cross_compiling" = "yes"; then
+        AC_CHECK_PROGS(CC_FOR_BUILD, gcc cc)
+    else
+        CC_FOR_BUILD="$CC"
+    fi
+fi
+AC_SUBST([CC_FOR_BUILD])
 
 # We are going to use libtool.
 AC_DISABLE_STATIC
diff --git a/src/bin2c/Makefile.am b/src/bin2c/Makefile.am
index bdd58808a..f5f118d05 100644
--- a/src/bin2c/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/bin2c/Makefile.am
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 noinst_PROGRAMS = bin2c
 
 bin2c_SOURCES = bin2c.c
+
+bin2c: bin2c.c
+       $(CC_FOR_BUILD) $(CFLAGS_FOR_BUILD) -o bin2c bin2c.c