diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 11fc3b76a4..913fd16e11 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -45,7 +45,12 @@ HOSTARCH := $(shell uname -m | \
 HOSTOS := $(shell uname -s | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | \
 	    sed -e 's/\(cygwin\).*/cygwin/')
 
-export	HOSTARCH HOSTOS
+# Set shell to bash if possible, otherwise fall back to sh
+SHELL := $(shell if [ -x "$$BASH" ]; then echo $$BASH; \
+	else if [ -x /bin/bash ]; then echo /bin/bash; \
+	else echo sh; fi; fi)
+
+export	HOSTARCH HOSTOS SHELL
 
 # Deal with colliding definitions from tcsh etc.
 VENDOR=