diff --git a/tests/imp/Makefile b/tests/imp/Makefile
index a9f37c9..0266dd2 100644
--- a/tests/imp/Makefile
+++ b/tests/imp/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 DEF=imp
 EXT=imp
 TESTDIR=.
-KOMPILE_FLAGS=--backend java
+KOMPILE_BACKEND?=java
 KRUN_FLAGS+=--output none
 
 include $(K_HOME)/k-distribution/include/ktest.mak