diff --git a/i3bar/Makefile b/i3bar/Makefile
index d4cc59b9..216e68cc 100644
--- a/i3bar/Makefile
+++ b/i3bar/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ doc:
 
 src/%.o: src/%.c ${HEADERS}
 	echo "CC $<"
-	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
+	$(CC) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
 
 install: all
 	echo "INSTALL"
diff --git a/i3bar/common.mk b/i3bar/common.mk
index 1db1558a..ec633007 100644
--- a/i3bar/common.mk
+++ b/i3bar/common.mk
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@ CFLAGS += -idirafter yajl-fallback
 
 CFLAGS += -Wall
 CFLAGS += -pipe
-CFLAGS += -Iinclude
 CFLAGS += -g
-CFLAGS += -DI3BAR_VERSION=\"${GIT_VERSION}\"
+
+CPPFLAGS += -DI3BAR_VERSION=\"${GIT_VERSION}\"
+CPPFLAGS += -Iinclude
 
 LDFLAGS += -lev
 LDFLAGS += -lyajl