diff --git a/configure b/configure
index a801b657332..8a2b3d645f5 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ parser.add_option("--dest-cpu",
     dest="dest_cpu",
     help="CPU architecture to build for. Valid values are: arm, ia32, x64")
 
+parser.add_option("--dest-os",
+    action="store",
+    dest="dest_os",
+    help="Operating system to build for. Valid values are: "
+         "win, mac, solaris, freebsd, linux")
+
 parser.add_option("--no-ifaddrs",
     action="store_true",
     dest="no_ifaddrs",
@@ -465,6 +471,8 @@ write('config.mk', "# Do not edit. Generated by the configure script.\n" +
 
 if os.name == 'nt':
   gyp_args = ['-f', 'msvs', '-G', 'msvs_version=2010']
+elif options.dest_os:
+  gyp_args = ['-f', 'make-' + options.dest_os]
 else:
   gyp_args = ['-f', 'make']