diff --git a/docs/manual/adding-packages-autotools.txt b/docs/manual/adding-packages-autotools.txt
index 3f405034ca..4329ca7cea 100644
--- a/docs/manual/adding-packages-autotools.txt
+++ b/docs/manual/adding-packages-autotools.txt
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ cases, typical packages will therefore only use a few of them.
   automake, libtool, etc.). Valid values are +YES+ and
   +NO+. By default, the value is +NO+
 
+* +LIBFOO_AUTORECONF_ENV+, to specify additional environment
+  variables to pass to the 'autoreconf' program if
+  +LIBFOO_AUTORECONF=YES+. These are passed in the environment of
+  the 'autoreconf' command. By default, empty.
+  
 * +LIBFOO_AUTORECONF_OPT+ to specify additional options
   passed to the 'autoreconf' program if
   +LIBFOO_AUTORECONF=YES+. By default, empty.
diff --git a/package/pkg-autotools.mk b/package/pkg-autotools.mk
index 53bca30645..4443c72b05 100644
--- a/package/pkg-autotools.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-autotools.mk
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ endef
 #
 define AUTORECONF_HOOK
 	@$$(call MESSAGE,"Autoreconfiguring")
-	$$(Q)cd $$($$(PKG)_SRCDIR) && $$(AUTORECONF) $$($$(PKG)_AUTORECONF_OPT)
+	$$(Q)cd $$($$(PKG)_SRCDIR) && $$($$(PKG)_AUTORECONF_ENV) $$(AUTORECONF) $$($$(PKG)_AUTORECONF_OPT)
 	$$(Q)if test "$$($$(PKG)_LIBTOOL_PATCH)" = "YES"; then \
 		for i in `find $$($$(PKG)_SRCDIR) -name ltmain.sh`; do \
 			ltmain_version=`sed -n '/^[ 	]*VERSION=/{s/^[ 	]*VERSION=//;p;q;}' $$$$i | \