diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b8db21e09..25e622ddf 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ nomad_linux_amd64
 nomad_darwin_amd64
 TODO.md
 codecgen-*.generated.go
+GNUMakefile.local
 
 .terraform
 *.tfstate*
diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 4ccaf2550..4f6543847 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ ifeq (FreeBSD,$(THIS_OS))
 ALL_TARGETS += freebsd_amd64
 endif
 
+# include per-user customization after all variables are defined
+-include GNUMakefile.local
+
 pkg/darwin_amd64/nomad: $(SOURCE_FILES) ## Build Nomad for darwin/amd64
 	@echo "==> Building $@ with tags $(GO_TAGS)..."
 	@CGO_ENABLED=1 GOOS=darwin GOARCH=amd64 \