diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
index 6210f5f79f3..3dae37136a2 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
@@ -266,8 +266,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ((drvAttrs config hostPlatform.platform kernelPatches config
 
   hardeningDisable = [ "bindnow" "format" "fortify" "stackprotector" "pic" ];
 
+  # Absolute paths for compilers avoid any PATH-clobbering issues.
   makeFlags = commonMakeFlags ++ [
-    "HOSTCC=${buildPackages.stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}gcc"
+    "CC=${stdenv.cc}/bin/${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}cc"
+    "HOSTCC=${buildPackages.stdenv.cc}/bin/${buildPackages.stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}cc"
     "ARCH=${stdenv.hostPlatform.platform.kernelArch}"
   ] ++ stdenv.lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform) [
     "CROSS_COMPILE=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}"