diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index f9f8d37..fd8a17d 100755
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@
 AC_DEFINE(BUSNAME_UPDATER, "org.open_power.Software.Host.Updater",
     [The item updater DBus busname to own.])
 
+AC_ARG_VAR(IMG_DIR, [Directory where downloaded or uploaded software images are placed and extracted])
+AS_IF([test "x$IMG_DIR" == "x"], [IMG_DIR="/tmp/images"])
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([IMG_DIR], ["$IMG_DIR"], [Directory where downloaded or uploaded software images are placed and extracted])
+
 AC_ARG_VAR(MANIFEST_FILE, [The path to the MANIFEST file])
 AS_IF([test "x$MANIFEST_FILE" == "x"], [MANIFEST_FILE="MANIFEST"])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([MANIFEST_FILE], ["$MANIFEST_FILE"], [The path to the MANIFEST file])