diff --git a/.build.yml b/.build.yml
index 2d8825c..9f341cb 100644
--- a/.build.yml
+++ b/.build.yml
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@ pipeline:
   build:
     image: codingworkshop/oscw-runner:latest
     commands:
-      - ./build-linux.sh
+      - CORES=8 ./build-linux.sh
diff --git a/build-linux.sh b/build-linux.sh
index 00fee59..50c1364 100755
--- a/build-linux.sh
+++ b/build-linux.sh
@@ -508,9 +508,11 @@ xtchain_build()
 set -e
 
 # Check number of CPU cores available
-: ${CORES:=$(sysctl -n hw.ncpu 2>/dev/null)}
-: ${CORES:=$(nproc 2>/dev/null)}
-: ${CORES:=1}
+if [[ ! -n ${CORES} ]]; then
+	: ${CORES:=$(sysctl -n hw.ncpu 2>/dev/null)}
+	: ${CORES:=$(nproc 2>/dev/null)}
+	: ${CORES:=1}
+fi
 
 # Create working directories
 mkdir -p ${BINDIR}