diff --git a/mozilla/config/mkdetect/detect_hostident.sh b/mozilla/config/mkdetect/detect_hostident.sh
index 9d2d6bc7e6e..39a2f2dfef7 100755
--- a/mozilla/config/mkdetect/detect_hostident.sh
+++ b/mozilla/config/mkdetect/detect_hostident.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@
 ##
 ##############################################################################
 
+# Allow the user to override the default host identity
+if [ -n "$MOZILLA_HOSTIDENT" ]
+then
+	echo $MOZILLA_HOSTIDENT
+
+	exit
+fi
+
 HOSTIDENT_ARCH=`uname -s`
 
 # Determine the host name