--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@
 
 # makemake variables
 
-LINKER       := g++
-DEPENDFLAGS  := -g  ${SEARCHDIRS}
+LINKER = $(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS)
+DEPENDFLAGS  := ${SEARCHDIRS}
 TOUCHHEADERS := ${MYCODEDIR}/*.h
 
 # C
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@
 
 # C++
 
-CXX      := g++
-CXXFLAGS  = ${DEPENDFLAGS} -O9 -funroll-loops -fomit-frame-pointer -ffast-math -Wcast-align
+CXX      ?= g++
+CXXFLAGS  += ${DEPENDFLAGS}
 
 %.o : %.cpp
 	${CXX} ${CPPFLAGS} -c $< ${CXXFLAGS} -o $@
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     LOADLIBES := $(LOADLIBES) -lXpm -lXt
 endif
 
-LDFLAGS   = -L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib -L/usr/X11R6/lib 
+LDFLAGS   += -L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib -L/usr/X11R6/lib 
 
 .PHONY : default
 default : amph