diff --git a/arch/xtensa/Makefile b/arch/xtensa/Makefile
index 735916b3daee63bfcde1352e4056f1ec4709f3b3..bb5ba61723f73d4feab322008524c3d90801d38b 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/Makefile
+++ b/arch/xtensa/Makefile
@@ -21,6 +21,18 @@ variant-$(CONFIG_XTENSA_VARIANT_LINUX_CUSTOM)	:= custom
 VARIANT = $(variant-y)
 export VARIANT
 
+# Test for cross compiling
+
+ifneq ($(VARIANT),)
+  COMPILE_ARCH = $(shell uname -m)
+
+  ifneq ($(COMPILE_ARCH), xtensa)
+    ifndef CROSS_COMPILE
+      CROSS_COMPILE = xtensa_$(VARIANT)-
+    endif
+  endif
+endif
+
 # Platform configuration
 
 platform-$(CONFIG_XTENSA_PLATFORM_XT2000)	:= xt2000
@@ -48,18 +60,6 @@ endif
 
 KBUILD_DEFCONFIG := iss_defconfig
 
-# Test for cross compiling
-
-ifneq ($(VARIANT),)
-  COMPILE_ARCH = $(shell uname -m)
-
-  ifneq ($(COMPILE_ARCH), xtensa)
-    ifndef CROSS_COMPILE
-      CROSS_COMPILE = xtensa_$(VARIANT)-
-    endif
-  endif
-endif
-
 # Only build variant and/or platform if it includes a Makefile
 
 buildvar := $(shell test -e $(srctree)/arch/xtensa/variants/$(VARIANT)/Makefile && echo arch/xtensa/variants/$(VARIANT)/)