diff --git a/programs/Makefile b/programs/Makefile
index 443689b1b..25f184f8c 100644
--- a/programs/Makefile
+++ b/programs/Makefile
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ ifdef SHARED
 SHARED_SUFFIX=.$(DLEXT)
 endif
 else
-DLEXT=so
+DLEXT ?= so
 EXEXT=
 SHARED_SUFFIX=
 endif
diff --git a/tests/Makefile b/tests/Makefile
index 4787f2508..d85617fdc 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile
+++ b/tests/Makefile
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ ifdef SHARED
 SHARED_SUFFIX=.$(DLEXT)
 endif
 else
-DLEXT=so
+DLEXT ?= so
 EXEXT=
 SHARED_SUFFIX=
 endif