diff --git a/boards/x86-multiboot-common/Makefile.include b/boards/x86-multiboot-common/Makefile.include
index 91f95e813d..2f0d206487 100644
--- a/boards/x86-multiboot-common/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/x86-multiboot-common/Makefile.include
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ export CPU = x86
 
 # toolchain config
 export CC ?= $(PREFIX)gcc
-export AR ?= $(PREFIX)ar
+ifeq ($(LTO),1)
+export AR = $(PREFIX)gcc-ar
+else
+export AR = $(PREFIX)ar
+endif
 export AS ?= $(PREFIX)as
 export RANLIB ?= $(PREFIX)ranlib
 export LINK ?= $(RIOTBASE)/boards/x86-multiboot-common/dist/link $(PREFIX)gcc