diff --git a/tools/elfutils/Makefile b/tools/elfutils/Makefile
index f9c6272719..105be07720 100644
--- a/tools/elfutils/Makefile
+++ b/tools/elfutils/Makefile
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ PKG_INSTALL:=1
 
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/host-build.mk
 
+HOST_CFLAGS +=-std=gnu17
+
 HOST_CONFIGURE_ARGS += \
 	--disable-debuginfod \
 	--disable-libdebuginfod \