diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a075596..27bd762 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ envPaths
 dllPath.bat
 auto_settings.sav*
 auto_positions.sav*
-
+RELEASE.local
diff --git a/configure/CONFIG_SITE b/configure/CONFIG_SITE
index 212485e..c2c7fa1 100644
--- a/configure/CONFIG_SITE
+++ b/configure/CONFIG_SITE
@@ -39,5 +39,6 @@ CHECK_RELEASE = YES
 # settings without having to modify the configure/CONFIG_SITE
 # file itself.
 -include $(TOP)/../CONFIG_SITE.local
+-include $(TOP)/../configure/CONFIG_SITE.local
 -include $(TOP)/configure/CONFIG_SITE.local
 
diff --git a/configure/RELEASE b/configure/RELEASE
index 33c00fd..2c0767d 100644
--- a/configure/RELEASE
+++ b/configure/RELEASE
@@ -23,3 +23,9 @@ EPICS_BASE=/corvette/usr/local/epics-devel/base-3.15.5
 #Capfast users may need the following definitions
 #CAPFAST_TEMPLATES=
 #SCH2EDIF_PATH=
+
+# These lines allow developers to override these RELEASE settings
+# without having to modify this file directly.
+-include $(TOP)/../RELEASE.local
+-include $(TOP)/../RELEASE.$(EPICS_HOST_ARCH).local
+-include $(TOP)/configure/RELEASE.local