diff --git a/make/projects-dir.mk b/make/projects-dir.mk
index 23480390..03b04da2 100644
--- a/make/projects-dir.mk
+++ b/make/projects-dir.mk
@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ ifeq ($(CVSROOT),)
   export CVSROOT
 endif
 
-CVS_RSH = ssh
-export CVS_RSH
+ifeq ($(CVS_RSH),)
+  CVS_RSH = ssh
+  export CVS_RSH
+endif
 
 PGIT   = CLONE_PROJECTS="$(PROJECTS)" CLONE_FROM_USER="$(shell whoami)" /bin/bash $(firstword $(wildcard ./ytools/devutil/scripts/pgit.sh /opt/ytools/bin/pgit.sh))