--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -214,6 +214,20 @@
 
 fi
 
+dnl Get the host compiler if cross-compiling
+dnl
+AM_CONDITIONAL(CROSS_COMPILING, [ test $cross_compiling = yes ])
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([for CC_FOR_BUILD])
+if test "x${CC_FOR_BUILD+set}" != "xset" ; then
+  if test "x$cross_compiling" = "xyes" ; then
+    CC_FOR_BUILD=${CC_FOR_BUILD-gcc}
+  else
+    CC_FOR_BUILD=${CC}
+  fi
+fi
+AC_MSG_RESULT([$CC_FOR_BUILD])
+AC_SUBST(CC_FOR_BUILD)
+
 AC_CONFIG_FILES(
   Makefile
   pygobject-2.0.pc
--- a/gobject/Makefile.am
+++ b/gobject/Makefile.am
@@ -71,6 +71,13 @@
 if PLATFORM_WIN32
 _gobject_la_CFLAGS += -DPLATFORM_WIN32
 endif
+
+# Strip all the noise (system includes/etc...) before the main func
+generate-constants$(EXEEXT): generate-constants.c
+	printf '#include <stdio.h>\nint main()' > generate-constants.pre.c
+	$(CC) $(generate_constants_CFLAGS) -E generate-constants.c | sed -e '1,/^int main/d' >> generate-constants.pre.c
+	$(CC_FOR_BUILD) -o $@ generate-constants.pre.c
+	rm -f generate-constants.pre.c