diff --git a/sbin/newfs/Makefile b/sbin/newfs/Makefile
index 4228510fb287..4e9462116b71 100644
--- a/sbin/newfs/Makefile
+++ b/sbin/newfs/Makefile
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ MAN=	newfs.8
 
 MOUNT=	${.CURDIR}/../mount
 CFLAGS+=-DFSIRAND -I${MOUNT}
-WARNS=	2
+WARNS?=	2
 
 .PATH:	${MOUNT}