diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index d7cc60f0..92b467ed 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -32,11 +32,15 @@ defconfig.h: $(srcdir)/awesomerc
 	@$(SED) 's,\\,\\\\,g;s/$$/ \\/;s/"/\\"/g' "$(srcdir)/awesomerc" >> defconfig.h
 	@echo "\"" >> defconfig.h
 
+if USING_GCC
+# If you are using gcc, and want to deactivate this default set of
+# compile flags, run make with AWESOME_CFLAGS="".
 AWESOME_CFLAGS = -std=gnu99 -ggdb3 -pipe \
 		 -Wall -Wextra \
 		 -Wundef -Wshadow -Wcast-align -Wwrite-strings -Wsign-compare \
 		 -Wunused -Winit-self -Wpointer-arith -Wredundant-decls \
 		 -Wmissing-prototypes -Wmissing-format-attribute -Wmissing-noreturn
+endif
 AM_CPPFLAGS = $(XFT_CFLAGS) $(X_CFLAGS) $(CAIRO_CFLAGS) $(CONFUSE_CFLAGS) $(XRANDR_CFLAGS) $(XINERAMA_CFLAGS) $(AWESOME_CFLAGS)
 
 bin_PROGRAMS += awesome
diff --git a/README b/README
index 0808e821..d83947ad 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ proper parameters, and build and install:
   make
   make install # might need root permissions
 
+If you're using gcc as your compiler and do not want awesome's default set
+of warning flags, add AWESOME_CFLAGS="" to your "make" lines.
+
 Running awesome
 -----------
 Add the following line to your .xinitrc to start awesome using startx
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 00d7aae3..b14bf28a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_ASCIIDOC], [test "x$ASCIIDOC" != "x:"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_XMLTO],    [test "x$XMLTO"    != "x:"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_DOXYGEN],  [test "x$DOXYGEN"  != "x:"])
 
+AM_CONDITIONAL([USING_GCC], [test "x$GCC" = "xyes"])
+
 # Checks for libraries.
 AC_PATH_XTRA
 PKG_CHECK_MODULES([CAIRO], [cairo],,