diff --git a/.drone.jsonnet b/.drone.jsonnet
index 443561cfd..ef062f1e2 100644
--- a/.drone.jsonnet
+++ b/.drone.jsonnet
@@ -146,6 +146,36 @@ local windows_cross_pipeline(name,
   ],
 };
 
+// linux cross compile on debian
+local linux_cross_pipeline(name,
+                           cross_targets,
+                           arch='amd64',
+                           build_type='Release',
+                           cmake_extra='',
+                           extra_cmds=[],
+                           jobs=6,
+                           allow_fail=false) = {
+  kind: 'pipeline',
+  type: 'docker',
+  name: name,
+  platform: { arch: arch },
+  trigger: { branch: { exclude: ['debian/*', 'ubuntu/*'] } },
+  steps: [
+    submodules,
+    {
+      name: 'build',
+      image: docker_base + 'debian-stable-cross',
+      pull: 'always',
+      [if allow_fail then 'failure']: 'ignore',
+      environment: { SSH_KEY: { from_secret: 'SSH_KEY' }, CROSS_TARGETS: std.join(':', cross_targets) },
+      commands: [
+        'echo "Building on ${DRONE_STAGE_MACHINE}"',
+        'VERBOSE=1 JOBS=' + jobs + ' ./contrib/cross.sh ' + std.join(' ', cross_targets) + (if std.length(cmake_extra) > 0 then ' -- ' + cmake_extra else ''),
+      ] + extra_cmds,
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
 // Builds a snapshot .deb on a debian-like system by merging into the debian/* or ubuntu/* branch
 local deb_builder(image, distro, distro_branch, arch='amd64', loki_repo=true) = {
   kind: 'pipeline',
@@ -310,6 +340,12 @@ local docs_pipeline(name, image, extra_cmds=[], allow_fail=false) = {
   // ARM builds (ARM64 and armhf)
   debian_pipeline('Debian sid (ARM64)', docker_base + 'debian-sid', arch='arm64', jobs=4),
   debian_pipeline('Debian stable (armhf)', docker_base + 'debian-stable/arm32v7', arch='arm64', jobs=4),
+
+  // cross compile targets
+  linux_cross_pipeline('Cross Compile (mips)', cross_targets=['mips-linux-gnu', 'mipsel-linux-gnu']),
+  linux_cross_pipeline('Cross Compile (arm/arm64)', cross_targets=['arm-linux-gnueabihf', 'aarch64-linux-gnu']),
+  linux_cross_pipeline('Cross Compile (ppc64le)', cross_targets=['powerpc64le-linux-gnu']),
+
   // android apk builder
   apk_builder('android apk', docker_base + 'flutter', extra_cmds=['UPLOAD_OS=android ./contrib/ci/drone-static-upload.sh']),
 
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..0b7d66328 100755
--- a/contrib/cross.sh
+++ b/contrib/cross.sh
@@ -3,42 +3,62 @@
 # helper script for me for when i cross compile
 # t. jeff
 #
+set -e
+
 die() {
     echo $@
     exit 1
 }
 
+platform=${PLATFORM:-Linux}
 root="$(readlink -e $(dirname $0)/../)"
 cd $root
-set -e
-set -x
-test $# = 0 && die no targets provided
 mkdir -p build-cross
-echo "all: $@" > build-cross/Makefile
-for targ in $@ ; do
-    mkdir -p $root/build-cross/build-$targ
-    cd $root/build-cross/build-$targ
+
+cmake_opts="-DBUILD_STATIC_DEPS=ON \
+          -DSTATIC_LINK=ON \
+          -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF \
+          -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+          -DBUILD_LIBLOKINET=OFF \
+          -DWITH_TESTS=OFF \
+          -DNATIVE_BUILD=OFF \
+          -DSTATIC_LINK=ON \
+          -DWITH_SYSTEMD=OFF \
+          -DFORCE_OXENMQ_SUBMODULE=ON \
+          -DSUBMODULE_CHECK=OFF \
+          -DWITH_LTO=OFF \
+          -DWITH_BOOTSTRAP=OFF \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDeb"
+
+targets=()
+
+while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
+    if [ "$1" = "--" ]; then
+        shift
+        cmake_opts=$@
+        break
+    fi
+    targets+=("$1")
+    shift
+done
+test ${#targets[@]} = 0 && die no targets provided
+
+archs="${targets[@]}"
+echo "all: $archs" > build-cross/Makefile
+for arch in $archs ; do
+    mkdir -p $root/build-cross/build-$arch
+    cd $root/build-cross/build-$arch
     cmake \
         -G 'Unix Makefiles' \
+        -DCROSS_PLATFORM=$platform \
+        -DCROSS_PREFIX=$arch \
         -DCMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS=-fstack-protector \
-        -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=-fdiagnostics-color=always\
-        -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=$root/contrib/cross/$targ.toolchain.cmake\
-        -DBUILD_STATIC_DEPS=ON \
-        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF \
-        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
-        -DBUILD_LIBLOKINET=OFF \
-        -DWITH_TESTS=OFF \
-        -DNATIVE_BUILD=OFF \
-        -DSTATIC_LINK=ON \
-        -DWITH_SYSTEMD=OFF \
-        -DFORCE_OXENMQ_SUBMODULE=ON \
-        -DSUBMODULE_CHECK=OFF \
-        -DWITH_LTO=OFF \
-        -DWITH_BOOTSTRAP=OFF \
-        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=-fdiagnostics-color=always \
+        -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=$root/contrib/cross/cross.toolchain.cmake \
+        $cmake_opts \
         $root
     cd $root/build-cross
-    echo -ne "$targ:\n\t\$(MAKE) -C  build-$targ\n" >> $root/build-cross/Makefile
+    echo -ne "$arch:\n\t\$(MAKE) -C  build-$arch\n" >> $root/build-cross/Makefile
 
 done
 cd $root
diff --git a/contrib/cross/aarch64.toolchain.cmake b/contrib/cross/aarch64.toolchain.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index ada0993c3..000000000
--- a/contrib/cross/aarch64.toolchain.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX aarch64-linux-gnu)
-set(TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX)
-
-set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH /usr/${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..2f35d1dcb 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -68,9 +68,19 @@ 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`, you can provide your own toolchain if you want)
 
     $ sudo apt install g{cc,++}-aarch64-linux-gnu