diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3722d3aa1..eba7bbc32 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export IPFS_API = v04x.ipfs.io
+export IPFS_API ?= v04x.ipfs.io
 
 gx:
 	go get -u github.com/whyrusleeping/gx