diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index fe3f13107..64fd918f3 100755
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ else
 HOSTCC	= gcc
 HOSTCXX	= g++
 endif
-KBUILD_HOSTCFLAGS   := -Wall -Wmissing-prototypes -Wstrict-prototypes -O2 \
+KBUILD_HOSTCFLAGS   := -Wall -Wmissing-prototypes -Wstrict-prototypes -O3 \
 		-fomit-frame-pointer -std=gnu89 $(HOST_LFS_CFLAGS) \
 		$(HOSTCFLAGS)
 KBUILD_HOSTCXXFLAGS := -O2 $(HOST_LFS_CFLAGS) $(HOSTCXXFLAGS)