diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index c76db7b..870bf77 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ objects ?= $(sources:.c=.o)
 ivc_demo_object ?= ivc_demo.o
 rpmsg_demo_object ?= rpmsg_demo.o
 hvisor_objects ?= $(filter-out $(ivc_demo_object) $(rpmsg_demo_object), $(objects))
-ROOT ?= /
+ROOT ?=
 # gnu or musl
 LIBC ?= gnu
 
@@ -31,7 +31,13 @@ else
 toolchain := $(CCARCH)-linux-$(LIBC)
 endif
 
-CFLAGS := -Wall -Wextra -DLOG_USE_COLOR -DHLOG=$(LOG) --sysroot=$(ROOT)
+CFLAGS := -Wall -Wextra -DLOG_USE_COLOR -DHLOG=$(LOG) -pthread
+
+# Conditionally add sysroot if ROOT is set
+# Otherwise use default flags from cross-compiler
+ifneq ($(ROOT),)
+CFLAGS += --sysroot=$(ROOT)
+endif
 
 include_dirs := -I../include -I./include -I../cJSON
 
@@ -39,7 +45,7 @@ ifeq ($(LIBC), musl)
 include_dirs += -I./compat/
 endif
 
-LDFLAGS := -lpthread
+LDFLAGS := -lpthread -static
 
 # LIBS := -L$(ROOT)/usr/lib/$(toolchain) -L$(ROOT)/lib
 # LIBS := -L/opt/aarch64-linux-musl-cross/aarch64-linux-musl -L/opt/aarch64-linux-musl-cross/lib