diff --git a/conf/distro/include/tcmode-external.inc b/conf/distro/include/tcmode-external.inc
index a7c99b4..8626ef4 100644
--- a/conf/distro/include/tcmode-external.inc
+++ b/conf/distro/include/tcmode-external.inc
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ TUNE_LDARGS += "${@'-m ${LDEMULATION}' if '${LDEMULATION}' else ''}"
 # Additional search path for compiler component programs, to let us rebuild
 # binutils if necessary.
 gcc_bindir = "${STAGING_BINDIR_TOOLCHAIN}/gcc"
-TUNE_CCARGS .= "${@' -B${gcc_bindir}' if d.getVar('PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/${TARGET_PREFIX}binutils') != 'binutils-external-cross-${TARGET_ARCH}' else ''}"
+TARGET_CC_ARCH .= "${@' -B${gcc_bindir}' if d.getVar('PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/${TARGET_PREFIX}binutils') != 'binutils-external-cross-${TARGET_ARCH}' else ''}"
 
 # Align the external toolchain ldflags with the internal
 TARGET_LDFLAGS_BUILD_ID = "-Wl,--build-id=sha1"