diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ba1c10b2dc..446c2f8e63 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ endif	# config.mk
 # ARM relocations should all be R_ARM_RELATIVE.
 checkarmreloc: $(obj)u-boot
 	@if test "R_ARM_RELATIVE" != \
-		"`readelf -r $< | cut -d ' ' -f 4 | grep R_ARM | sort -u`"; \
+		"`$(CROSS_COMPILE)readelf -r $< | cut -d ' ' -f 4 | grep R_ARM | sort -u`"; \
 		then echo "$< contains relocations other than \
 		R_ARM_RELATIVE"; false; fi