diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ecfaa3e..435970a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -267,7 +267,8 @@ FIO-VERSION-FILE: FORCE
 	@$(SHELL) $(SRCDIR)/FIO-VERSION-GEN
 -include FIO-VERSION-FILE
 
-override CFLAGS := -DFIO_VERSION='"$(FIO_VERSION)"' $(FIO_CFLAGS) $(CFLAGS)
+override CFLAGS := $(FIO_CFLAGS) $(CFLAGS)
+CPPFLAGS += -DFIO_VERSION='"$(FIO_VERSION)"'
 
 $(foreach eng,$(ENGINES),$(eval $(call engine_template,$(eng))))