diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index cd2d50dac..f393ee96d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ option(WITH_BOOTSTRAP "build lokinet-bootstrap tool" ${DEFAULT_WITH_BOOTSTRAP})
 
 include(cmake/enable_lto.cmake)
 
+option(CROSS_PLATFORM "cross compiler platform" "Linux")
+option(CROSS_PREFIX "toolchain cross compiler prefix" "")
+
 option(BUILD_STATIC_DEPS "Download, build, and statically link against core dependencies" OFF)
 option(STATIC_LINK "link statically against dependencies" ${BUILD_STATIC_DEPS})
 if(BUILD_STATIC_DEPS AND NOT STATIC_LINK)
diff --git a/contrib/cross.sh b/contrib/cross.sh
index 125a7c54e..81d40edae 100755
--- a/contrib/cross.sh
+++ b/contrib/cross.sh
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@ die() {
     exit 1
 }
 
+platform=${PLATFORM:-Linux}
 root="$(readlink -e $(dirname $0)/../)"
 cd $root
 set -e
-set -x
+set +x
 test $# = 0 && die no targets provided
 mkdir -p build-cross
 echo "all: $@" > build-cross/Makefile
@@ -20,9 +21,11 @@ for targ in $@ ; do
     cd $root/build-cross/build-$targ
     cmake \
         -G 'Unix Makefiles' \
+        -DCROSS_PLATFORM=$platform \
+        -DCROSS_PREFIX=$targ \
         -DCMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS=-fstack-protector \
         -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=-fdiagnostics-color=always\
-        -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=$root/contrib/cross/$targ.toolchain.cmake\
+        -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=$root/contrib/cross/cross.toolchain.cmake\
         -DBUILD_STATIC_DEPS=ON \
         -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF \
         -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
diff --git a/contrib/cross/aarch64.toolchain.cmake b/contrib/cross/aarch64.toolchain.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index ada0993c3..000000000
--- a/contrib/cross/aarch64.toolchain.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX aarch64-linux-gnu)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX)
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH /usr/${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PROGRAM NEVER)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY ONLY)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)
-
-set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-gcc${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-g++${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(ARCH_TRIPLET ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
diff --git a/contrib/cross/armhf.toolchain.cmake b/contrib/cross/armhf.toolchain.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 552975e6d..000000000
--- a/contrib/cross/armhf.toolchain.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX arm-linux-gnueabihf)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX)
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH /usr/${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PROGRAM NEVER)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY ONLY)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)
-
-set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-gcc${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-g++${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(ARCH_TRIPLET ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
diff --git a/contrib/cross/mips.toolchain.cmake b/contrib/cross/cross.toolchain.cmake
similarity index 80%
rename from contrib/cross/mips.toolchain.cmake
rename to contrib/cross/cross.toolchain.cmake
index 758fa4fb2..2a7cde131 100644
--- a/contrib/cross/mips.toolchain.cmake
+++ b/contrib/cross/cross.toolchain.cmake
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
-set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX mips-linux-gnu)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX)
-
+set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME ${CROSS_PLATFORM})
+set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX ${CROSS_PREFIX})
 set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH /usr/${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
 
 set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PROGRAM NEVER)
diff --git a/contrib/cross/mips64.toolchain.cmake b/contrib/cross/mips64.toolchain.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index e71867b68..000000000
--- a/contrib/cross/mips64.toolchain.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX mips64-linux-gnuabi64)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX)
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH /usr/${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PROGRAM NEVER)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY ONLY)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)
-
-set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-gcc${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-g++${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(ARCH_TRIPLET ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
diff --git a/contrib/cross/mipsel.toolchain.cmake b/contrib/cross/mipsel.toolchain.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 142f96337..000000000
--- a/contrib/cross/mipsel.toolchain.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX mipsel-linux-gnu)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX)
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH /usr/${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PROGRAM NEVER)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY ONLY)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)
-
-set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-gcc${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-g++${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(ARCH_TRIPLET ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
diff --git a/contrib/cross/ppc64le.toolchain.cmake b/contrib/cross/ppc64le.toolchain.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index f0b956079..000000000
--- a/contrib/cross/ppc64le.toolchain.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX powerpc64le-linux-gnu)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX)
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH /usr/${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PROGRAM NEVER)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY ONLY)
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)
-
-set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-gcc${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}-g++${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
-set(ARCH_TRIPLET ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX})
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index e6fdaede5..be57d75f3 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -68,9 +68,21 @@ If you want to build from source:
     $ make -j$(nproc)
     $ sudo make install
 
+
 #### Cross Compile For Linux <span id="linux-cross" />
 
-install the toolchain for `$arch` this example is `aarch64`
+current cross targets:
+
+* aarch64-linux-gnu
+* arm-linux-gnueabihf
+* mips-linux-gnu
+* mips64-linux-gnuabi64
+* mipsel-linux-gnu
+* powerpc64le-linux-gnu
+
+
+
+install the toolchain (this one is for `aarch64-linux-gnu`)
 
     $ sudo apt install g{cc,++}-aarch64-linux-gnu