diff --git a/scripts/mbedtls_framework/c_build_helper.py b/scripts/mbedtls_framework/c_build_helper.py
index 59bb326e2..85dbb628f 100644
--- a/scripts/mbedtls_framework/c_build_helper.py
+++ b/scripts/mbedtls_framework/c_build_helper.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def compile_c_file(c_filename, exe_filename, include_dirs):
     cc = os.getenv('HOSTCC', None)
     if cc is None:
         cc = os.getenv('CC', 'cc')
-    cmd = [cc]
+    cmd = cc.split()
 
     proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd,
                             stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,