diff --git a/tools/check-exports.sh b/tools/check-exports.sh
index dfd882c15b..da62a74ff9 100755
--- a/tools/check-exports.sh
+++ b/tools/check-exports.sh
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ TMPFILE="$(mktemp .nm-check-exports.XXXXXX)"
 
 
 get_syms() {
-    nm "$1" |
+    ${NM:-nm} "$1" |
     sed -n 's/^[[:xdigit:]]\+ [DT] //p' |
     sort
 }