diff --git a/meta/classes-global/base.bbclass b/meta/classes-global/base.bbclass
index ecf0fd711f7..edf2149e6f1 100644
--- a/meta/classes-global/base.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-global/base.bbclass
@@ -111,7 +111,11 @@ def setup_hosttools_dir(dest, toolsvar, d, fatal=True):
             # clean up dead symlink
             if os.path.islink(desttool):
                 os.unlink(desttool)
-            srctool = bb.utils.which(path, tool, executable=True)
+
+            # Prefer gnu-prefixed binaries, if available
+            srctool = (bb.utils.which(path, "gnu" + tool, executable=True) or
+                       bb.utils.which(path, tool, executable=True))
+
             # gcc/g++ may link to ccache on some hosts, e.g.,
             # /usr/local/bin/ccache/gcc -> /usr/bin/ccache, then which(gcc)
             # would return /usr/local/bin/ccache/gcc, but what we need is