diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d32aa36..a7e4b47 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ TEST_TARGET=rmc_test
 WIRESHARK_TARGET=rmc_wireshark_plugin.so
 DESTDIR ?= /usr/local
 
-CFLAGS = -O2 -fpic -Wall -D_GNU_SOURCE
+CFLAGS ?= -O3 -fpic -Wall -D_GNU_SOURCE
+
 .PHONY: all clean etags print_obj install uninstall
 
 all: $(LIB_TARGET) $(LIB_SO_TARGET) $(TEST_TARGET)