diff --git a/src/cook/script.rs b/src/cook/script.rs
index 12d94ddc4..d3665a5d2 100644
--- a/src/cook/script.rs
+++ b/src/cook/script.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ function DYNAMIC_INIT {
     # TODO: check paths for spaces
     export LDFLAGS="${USER_LDFLAGS}-Wl,-rpath-link,${COOKBOOK_SYSROOT}/lib -L${COOKBOOK_SYSROOT}/lib -Wl,--export-dynamic"
     rustflags="-C target-feature=-crt-static -L native=${COOKBOOK_SYSROOT}/lib -C link-arg=-Wl,-rpath-link,${COOKBOOK_SYSROOT}/lib"
+    REDOXER_RUSTFLAGS_KEY=${REDOXER_RUSTFLAGS_KEY:-RUSTFLAGS}
     export "${REDOXER_RUSTFLAGS_KEY}=${!REDOXER_RUSTFLAGS_KEY} ${rustflags}"
     export COOKBOOK_DYNAMIC=1