diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d65d9bf6..799780bf 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -514,13 +514,13 @@ ifdef MINGW
     endif
 
     ifndef CC
-      CC=$(strip $(foreach MINGW_PREFIX, $(MINGW_PREFIXES), \
-         $(call bin_path, $(MINGW_PREFIX)-gcc)))
+      CC=$(firstword $(strip $(foreach MINGW_PREFIX, $(MINGW_PREFIXES), \
+         $(call bin_path, $(MINGW_PREFIX)-gcc))))
     endif
 
     ifndef WINDRES
-      WINDRES=$(strip $(foreach MINGW_PREFIX, $(MINGW_PREFIXES), \
-         $(call bin_path, $(MINGW_PREFIX)-windres)))
+      WINDRES=$(firstword $(strip $(foreach MINGW_PREFIX, $(MINGW_PREFIXES), \
+         $(call bin_path, $(MINGW_PREFIX)-windres))))
     endif
   else
     # Some MinGW installations define CC to cc, but don't actually provide cc,