diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ec9687a69..05cb8f8ed 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ Setup environment:
   - For ubuntu and debian run `sudo apt-get install build-essentials`
 - Verify that everything is installed by running `make build`
 
+Note: `make build` runs with `-v`. Other build flags can be added through env `GO_BUILD_FLAGS`, **if required**. Eg.,
+```console
+GO_BUILD_FLAGS="-buildmode=pie" make build
+```
+
 [file an issue]: https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/issues/new/choose
 
 ## Implement your change
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b47e58e51..1f0cfba4c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 .PHONY: build
 build:
-	GO_BUILD_FLAGS="-v" ./scripts/build.sh
+	GO_BUILD_FLAGS="${GO_BUILD_FLAGS} -v" ./scripts/build.sh
 	./bin/etcd --version
 	./bin/etcdctl version
 	./bin/etcdutl version