diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 67437fa113..da56e35f6e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ UNIQUE:=$(shell date +%s)
 BUILD=$(KOPS_ROOT)/.build
 LOCAL=$(BUILD)/local
 BINDATA_TARGETS=upup/models/bindata.go
-ARTIFACTS=$(BUILD)/artifacts
+ARTIFACTS?=$(BUILD)/artifacts
 DIST=$(BUILD)/dist
 IMAGES=$(DIST)/images
 CHANNELS=$(LOCAL)/channels