diff --git a/share/mk/sys.mk b/share/mk/sys.mk
index c984295bb19..4a4712cdee2 100644
--- a/share/mk/sys.mk
+++ b/share/mk/sys.mk
@@ -141,6 +141,10 @@ YFLAGS		?=
 YFLAGS		?=	-d
 .endif
 
+.if !defined(%POSIX)
+NM		?=	nm
+.endif
+
 .if defined(%POSIX)
 
 # Posix 1003.2 mandated rules