diff --git a/browser-plugin/Makefile.am b/browser-plugin/Makefile.am
index 4bfb35048..0dc7da119 100644
--- a/browser-plugin/Makefile.am
+++ b/browser-plugin/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-mozillalibdir = $(libdir)/mozilla/plugins
+mozillalibdir = $(BROWSER_PLUGIN_DIR)
 
 mozillalib_LTLIBRARIES = libgnome-shell-browser-plugin.la
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a7493c983..93dd0a0d4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -235,6 +235,9 @@ else
 fi
 AC_SUBST(SHELL_SYSTEM_CA_FILE,["$with_ca_certificates"])
 
+BROWSER_PLUGIN_DIR="${BROWSER_PLUGIN_DIR:-"\${libdir}/mozilla/plugins"}"
+AC_ARG_VAR([BROWSER_PLUGIN_DIR],[Where to install the plugin to])
+
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([
   Makefile
   data/Makefile