diff --git a/CONTRIBUTORS b/CONTRIBUTORS
index 5b9360cb..4b2ebf2a 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTORS
+++ b/CONTRIBUTORS
@@ -2493,6 +2493,7 @@ Tobias Grimm <tobias.grimm@e-tobi.net>
  for adding a missing dependency to the Makefile to avoid error messages in the
  clean-plugins target
  for adding optional verbose output to the libsi Makefile
+ for making the call to pkg_config configurable via the PKG_CONFIG macro
 
 Helge Lenz <h.lenz@gmx.de>
  for reporting a bug in setting the 'Delta' parameter when calling the shutdown
diff --git a/HISTORY b/HISTORY
index 02348c84..47e4813a 100644
--- a/HISTORY
+++ b/HISTORY
@@ -9478,3 +9478,8 @@ Video Disk Recorder Revision History
 - Changed the country code in the generated ParentalRatingDescriptor from 'DEU' to
   '902' to make it valid for all countries (thanks to Helmut Binder).
 - Added optional verbose output to the libsi Makefile (thanks to Tobias Grimm).
+- Made the call to pkg_config configurable via the PKG_CONFIG macro, which is necessary
+  for cross-building VDR (thanks to Tobias Grimm). Plugin authors may want to modify
+  their Makefiles accordingly by adding the line 'PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config' and
+  replacing every occurrence of 'pkg-config' with '$(PKG_CONFIG)', as can be seen in
+  the Makefiles of the plugins that come with the VDR source.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 087bf83f..93d061a8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@
 # See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
 # how to reach the author.
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.8 2020/06/15 13:07:55 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.9 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 .DELETE_ON_ERROR:
 
 # Compiler flags:
 
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+
 CC       ?= gcc
 CFLAGS   ?= -g -O3 -Wall
 
@@ -19,8 +21,8 @@ CXXFLAGS ?= -g -O3 -Wall -Werror=overloaded-virtual -Wno-parentheses
 CDEFINES  = -D_GNU_SOURCE
 CDEFINES += -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_LARGEFILE_SOURCE -D_LARGEFILE64_SOURCE
 
-LIBS      = -ljpeg -lpthread -ldl -lcap -lrt $(shell pkg-config --libs freetype2 fontconfig)
-INCLUDES ?= $(shell pkg-config --cflags freetype2 fontconfig)
+LIBS      = -ljpeg -lpthread -ldl -lcap -lrt $(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --libs freetype2 fontconfig)
+INCLUDES ?= $(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --cflags freetype2 fontconfig)
 
 # Directories:
 
@@ -107,14 +109,14 @@ ifdef VDR_USER
 DEFINES += -DVDR_USER=\"$(VDR_USER)\"
 endif
 ifdef BIDI
-INCLUDES += $(shell pkg-config --cflags fribidi)
+INCLUDES += $(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --cflags fribidi)
 DEFINES += -DBIDI
-LIBS += $(shell pkg-config --libs fribidi)
+LIBS += $(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --libs fribidi)
 endif
 ifdef SDNOTIFY
-INCLUDES += $(shell pkg-config --silence-errors --cflags libsystemd-daemon || pkg-config --cflags libsystemd)
+INCLUDES += $(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --silence-errors --cflags libsystemd-daemon || $(PKG_CONFIG) --cflags libsystemd)
 DEFINES += -DSDNOTIFY
-LIBS += $(shell pkg-config --silence-errors --libs libsystemd-daemon || pkg-config --libs libsystemd)
+LIBS += $(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --silence-errors --libs libsystemd-daemon || $(PKG_CONFIG) --libs libsystemd)
 endif
 
 LIRC_DEVICE ?= /var/run/lirc/lircd
diff --git a/PLUGINS/src/epgtableid0/Makefile b/PLUGINS/src/epgtableid0/Makefile
index ef7cc71f..f3ba5120 100644
--- a/PLUGINS/src/epgtableid0/Makefile
+++ b/PLUGINS/src/epgtableid0/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Makefile for a Video Disk Recorder plugin
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.2 2017/05/29 08:30:00 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.3 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 # The official name of this plugin.
 # This name will be used in the '-P...' option of VDR to load the plugin.
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ VERSION = $(shell grep 'static const char \*VERSION *=' $(PLUGIN).c | awk '{ pri
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell pkg-config --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = $(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 PLGCFG = $(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)
 #
diff --git a/PLUGINS/src/hello/Makefile b/PLUGINS/src/hello/Makefile
index 5581c78c..eafe721b 100644
--- a/PLUGINS/src/hello/Makefile
+++ b/PLUGINS/src/hello/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Makefile for a Video Disk Recorder plugin
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.2 2017/05/29 08:26:45 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.3 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 # The official name of this plugin.
 # This name will be used in the '-P...' option of VDR to load the plugin.
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ VERSION = $(shell grep 'static const char \*VERSION *=' $(PLUGIN).c | awk '{ pri
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell pkg-config --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = $(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 LOCDIR = $(call PKGCFG,locdir)
 PLGCFG = $(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)
diff --git a/PLUGINS/src/osddemo/Makefile b/PLUGINS/src/osddemo/Makefile
index 8deef83c..cb3b59a0 100644
--- a/PLUGINS/src/osddemo/Makefile
+++ b/PLUGINS/src/osddemo/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Makefile for a Video Disk Recorder plugin
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.2 2017/05/29 08:30:08 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.3 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 # The official name of this plugin.
 # This name will be used in the '-P...' option of VDR to load the plugin.
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ VERSION = $(shell grep 'static const char \*VERSION *=' $(PLUGIN).c | awk '{ pri
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell pkg-config --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = $(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 PLGCFG = $(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)
 #
diff --git a/PLUGINS/src/pictures/Makefile b/PLUGINS/src/pictures/Makefile
index 1af0fff8..0da73850 100644
--- a/PLUGINS/src/pictures/Makefile
+++ b/PLUGINS/src/pictures/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Makefile for a Video Disk Recorder plugin
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.2 2017/05/29 08:30:55 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.3 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 # The official name of this plugin.
 # This name will be used in the '-P...' option of VDR to load the plugin.
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ VERSION = $(shell grep 'static const char \*VERSION *=' $(PLUGIN).c | awk '{ pri
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell pkg-config --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = $(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 LOCDIR = $(call PKGCFG,locdir)
 PLGCFG = $(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)
diff --git a/PLUGINS/src/servicedemo/Makefile b/PLUGINS/src/servicedemo/Makefile
index bb8fb19d..7feee78f 100644
--- a/PLUGINS/src/servicedemo/Makefile
+++ b/PLUGINS/src/servicedemo/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Makefile for a Video Disk Recorder plugin
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.2 2017/05/29 08:31:07 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.3 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 # The official name of this plugin.
 # This name will be used in the '-P...' option of VDR to load the plugin.
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ VERSION = $(shell grep 'static const char \*VERSION *=' $(PLUGIN1).c | awk '{ pr
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell pkg-config --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = $(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 PLGCFG = $(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)
 #
diff --git a/PLUGINS/src/skincurses/Makefile b/PLUGINS/src/skincurses/Makefile
index 5d591fdb..85e98cd4 100644
--- a/PLUGINS/src/skincurses/Makefile
+++ b/PLUGINS/src/skincurses/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Makefile for a Video Disk Recorder plugin
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.2 2017/05/29 08:31:02 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.3 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 # The official name of this plugin.
 # This name will be used in the '-P...' option of VDR to load the plugin.
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ VERSION = $(shell grep 'static const char \*VERSION *=' $(PLUGIN).c | awk '{ pri
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell pkg-config --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = $(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 LOCDIR = $(call PKGCFG,locdir)
 PLGCFG = $(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)
diff --git a/PLUGINS/src/status/Makefile b/PLUGINS/src/status/Makefile
index a97c5090..4d68c9b1 100644
--- a/PLUGINS/src/status/Makefile
+++ b/PLUGINS/src/status/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Makefile for a Video Disk Recorder plugin
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.2 2017/05/29 08:30:32 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.3 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 # The official name of this plugin.
 # This name will be used in the '-P...' option of VDR to load the plugin.
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ VERSION = $(shell grep 'static const char \*VERSION *=' $(PLUGIN).c | awk '{ pri
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell pkg-config --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = $(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 PLGCFG = $(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)
 #
diff --git a/PLUGINS/src/svdrpdemo/Makefile b/PLUGINS/src/svdrpdemo/Makefile
index ed378cd0..8423c1c8 100644
--- a/PLUGINS/src/svdrpdemo/Makefile
+++ b/PLUGINS/src/svdrpdemo/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Makefile for a Video Disk Recorder plugin
 #
-# $Id: Makefile 4.2 2017/05/29 08:30:42 kls Exp $
+# $Id: Makefile 4.3 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 # The official name of this plugin.
 # This name will be used in the '-P...' option of VDR to load the plugin.
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ VERSION = $(shell grep 'static const char \*VERSION *=' $(PLUGIN).c | awk '{ pri
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell pkg-config --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = $(if $(VDRDIR),$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) $(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = $(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 PLGCFG = $(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)
 #
diff --git a/newplugin b/newplugin
index 2e953938..e51d45cb 100755
--- a/newplugin
+++ b/newplugin
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
 # how to reach the author.
 #
-# $Id: newplugin 4.3 2017/05/29 08:55:21 kls Exp $
+# $Id: newplugin 4.4 2020/06/22 15:08:46 kls Exp $
 
 $PLUGIN_NAME = $ARGV[0] || die "Usage: newplugin <name>\n";
 
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ VERSION = \$(shell grep 'static const char \\*VERSION *=' \$(PLUGIN).c | awk '{
 ### The directory environment:
 
 # Use package data if installed...otherwise assume we're under the VDR source directory:
-PKGCFG = \$(if \$(VDRDIR),\$(shell pkg-config --variable=\$(1) \$(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),\$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="\$\$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." pkg-config --variable=\$(1) vdr))
+PKG_CONFIG ?= pkg-config
+PKGCFG = \$(if \$(VDRDIR),\$(shell $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=\$(1) \$(VDRDIR)/vdr.pc),\$(shell PKG_CONFIG_PATH="\$\$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:../../.." $(PKG_CONFIG) --variable=\$(1) vdr))
 LIBDIR = \$(call PKGCFG,libdir)
 LOCDIR = \$(call PKGCFG,locdir)
 PLGCFG = \$(call PKGCFG,plgcfg)