diff --git a/Utilities/Release/release_cmake.sh.in b/Utilities/Release/release_cmake.sh.in
index b43df5543..a2e73c456 100755
--- a/Utilities/Release/release_cmake.sh.in
+++ b/Utilities/Release/release_cmake.sh.in
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 echo  "remove and create working directory ~/CMakeReleaseDirectory"
 rm -rf ~/CMakeReleaseDirectory 
 mkdir ~/CMakeReleaseDirectory
+
 check_exit_value()
 {
    VALUE="$1"
@@ -11,6 +12,21 @@ check_exit_value()
    fi      
 }
 
+if [ ! -z "@CC@" ]; then
+    set CC="@CC@"
+    check_exit_value $? "set CC compiler env var" || exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ ! -z "@CXX@" ]; then
+    set CXX="@CXX@"
+    check_exit_value $? "set CC compiler env var" || exit 1
+fi
+if [ ! -z "@LDFLAGS@" ]; then
+    set LDFLAGS="@LDFLAGS@"
+    check_exit_value $? "set CC compiler env var" || exit 1
+fi
+
+
 if [ ! -z "@USER_MAKE_RULE_FILE_CONTENTS@" ]; then
     echo "@USER_MAKE_RULE_FILE_CONTENTS@" > "@USER_MAKE_RULE_FILE@"
     check_exit_value $? "Create User Rule file" || exit 1