diff --git a/usr.sbin/cron/crontab/Makefile b/usr.sbin/cron/crontab/Makefile
index d136fb2f7f33..829128e5729e 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/cron/crontab/Makefile
+++ b/usr.sbin/cron/crontab/Makefile
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ BINOWN=	root
 BINMODE=4555
 PRECIOUSPROG=
 
-WARNS=3
+WARNS?=	3
 
 CFLAGS+= -I${.CURDIR}/../cron