diff --git a/make/defs-orig.mk b/make/defs-orig.mk
index 2ebd2ad6..82f9fb9b 100644
--- a/make/defs-orig.mk
+++ b/make/defs-orig.mk
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ endif
 			lib include bin \
 			inst/post
 
-LIBNAME := $(PROJECT)
+ifndef LIBNAME
+	LIBNAME := $(PROJECT)
+endif
 
 ifndef TOPDIR
 	TOPDIR := $(MODDIR)