diff --git a/configure b/configure
index caf11f5..003da8d 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -513,12 +513,13 @@ fi
 # Temporary DIR location:
 #########################
 
-TMPDIR="."
-
-if [ -d /var/tmp ] ; then
-  TMPDIR="/var/tmp"
-elif [ -d /tmp ] ; then
-  TMPDIR=/tmp
+TMPDIR=${TMPDIR:-.}
+if test x"${TMPDIR}" = "." ; then
+  if [ -d /var/tmp ] ; then
+    TMPDIR="/var/tmp"
+  elif [ -d /tmp ] ; then
+    TMPDIR=/tmp
+  fi
 fi
 
 ${ECHO_CMD} Use TMP dir ${TMPDIR}