diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e7e8821a7e70ba32de7fe7ec9c262c6afa497197..ba97551106d885feecdccfdabd9f9a84549b0bfc 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -75,6 +75,14 @@ case "${host}" in
     AC_DEFINE(FreeBSD, 1,
               [Define according to your operating system type.])
     PBX_OSTYPE="FreeBSD"
+    # XXX temporary hack to let FreeBSD use the default paths
+    # for local stuff. We need a better solution.
+    if test x"${CPPFLAGS}" = x; then
+        CPPFLAGS="-I /usr/local/include"
+    fi
+    if test x"${LDFLAGS}" = x; then
+        LDFLAGS="-L /usr/local/lib"
+    fi
     ;;
   *openbsd*)
     AC_DEFINE(OpenBSD, 1,