diff --git a/tests/scripts/depends.py b/tests/scripts/depends.py
index 1a84531..a7d5672 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/depends.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/depends.py
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
 
     def __init__(self, options, conf):
         """Gather data about the library and establish a list of domains to test."""
-        build_command = [options.make_command, 'CFLAGS=-Werror -O2']
+        build_command = [options.make_command] + options.make_vars.split(' ') + ['CFLAGS=-Werror -O2']
         build_and_test = [build_command, [options.make_command, 'test']]
         self.all_config_symbols = set(conf.settings.keys())
         # Find hash modules by name.
@@ -526,6 +526,9 @@
         parser.add_argument('--make-command', metavar='CMD',
                             help='Command to run instead of make (e.g. gmake)',
                             action='store', default='make')
+        parser.add_argument('--make-vars',
+                            help='optional variable/value pairs to pass to make',
+                            action='store', default='')
         parser.add_argument('--unset-use-psa',
                             help='Unset MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO before any test',
                             action='store_true', dest='unset_use_psa')