diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 0258b42..18773b6 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(edb,
         [CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -I$withval/include"
         LIBS="-L$withval/lib $LIBS"])
 
+AC_ARG_WITH(freetype,
+        [  --with-freetype=DIR     use freetype rooted at <DIR>],
+        [CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -I$withval/include"
+        LIBS="-L$withval/lib $LIBS"])
+
 mmx=no
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(mmx,[  --enable-mmx            attempt compiling using mmx assembly [default=yes]],
 [