diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index c8901fed9..8c596d81e 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -705,8 +705,11 @@ if test "$with_perl" != "no"; then
     PERL_BIN="$WITH_PERL_BIN"
   fi
 
-  # XXX: add a --with-perlconsole flag.
-  # AC_DEFINE(WITH_PERLCONSOLE, 1, [Enable PERL Console support (for debugging purposes)])
+  AC_ARG_ENABLE(perl-console, [  --disable-perl-console  disable PERL console (default=enabled)],perlconsole_disabled="(disabled)")
+  
+  if test "$enable_perlconsole" != "no"; then
+    AC_DEFINE(WITH_PERLCONSOLE, 1, [Enable PERL Console support (for debugging purposes)])
+  fi
 
   if test "$PERL_BIN" != "no"; then
     AC_CACHE_CHECK(