diff --git a/depends/hosts/default.mk b/depends/hosts/default.mk
index 6f60d6b3fd..258619a9d0 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/default.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/default.mk
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+ifneq ($(host),$(build))
+host_toolchain:=$(host)-
+endif
+
 default_host_CC = $(host_toolchain)gcc
 default_host_CXX = $(host_toolchain)g++
 default_host_AR = $(host_toolchain)ar
@@ -9,9 +13,18 @@ default_host_OTOOL = $(host_toolchain)otool
 default_host_NM = $(host_toolchain)nm
 
 define add_host_tool_func
+ifneq ($(filter $(origin $1),undefined default),)
+# Do not consider the well-known var $1 if it is undefined or is taking a value
+# that is predefined by "make" (e.g. the make variable "CC" has a predefined
+# value of "cc")
 $(host_os)_$1?=$$(default_host_$1)
 $(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$1?=$$($(host_os)_$1)
 $(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$(release_type)_$1?=$$($(host_os)_$1)
+else
+$(host_os)_$1=$(or $($1),$($(host_os)_$1),$(default_host_$1))
+$(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$1=$(or $($1),$($(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$1),$$($(host_os)_$1))
+$(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$(release_type)_$1=$(or $($1),$($(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$(release_type)_$1),$$($(host_os)_$1))
+endif
 host_$1=$$($(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$1)
 endef
 
diff --git a/depends/hosts/mingw32.mk b/depends/hosts/mingw32.mk
index 4260c9a902..be5fec570c 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/mingw32.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/mingw32.mk
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ mingw32_debug_CXXFLAGS=$(mingw32_debug_CFLAGS)
 
 mingw32_debug_CPPFLAGS=-D_GLIBCXX_DEBUG -D_GLIBCXX_DEBUG_PEDANTIC
 
-mingw_CC=
+mingw_cmake_system=Windows