diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b21d2f1417..6e70a6d44c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -428,6 +428,9 @@ PROGRAM_OBJS += upload-pack.o
 PROGRAM_OBJS += http-backend.o
 PROGRAM_OBJS += sh-i18n--envsubst.o
 
+# Binary suffix, set to .exe for Windows builds
+X =
+
 PROGRAMS += $(patsubst %.o,git-%$X,$(PROGRAM_OBJS))
 
 TEST_PROGRAMS_NEED_X += test-chmtime