diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 8c3fef57f..4ccaf2550 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ GIT_COMMIT := $(shell git rev-parse HEAD)
 GIT_DIRTY := $(if $(shell git status --porcelain),+CHANGES)
 
 GO_LDFLAGS := "-X github.com/hashicorp/nomad/version.GitCommit=$(GIT_COMMIT)$(GIT_DIRTY)"
-GO_TAGS =
+GO_TAGS ?=
 
 GO_TEST_CMD = $(if $(shell which gotestsum),gotestsum --,go test)