diff --git a/README b/README
index 159912cf5155..592f8a238281 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ CONFIGURING the kernel:
    "make *config" checks for a file named "all{yes/mod/no/random}.config"
    for symbol values that are to be forced.  If this file is not found,
    it checks for a file named "all.config" to contain forced values.
+   Finally it checks the environment variable K64BIT and if found, sets
+   the config symbol "64BIT" to the value of the K64BIT variable.
    
 	NOTES on "make config":
 	- having unnecessary drivers will make the kernel bigger, and can
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
index a38787a881ea..c6bee85c3962 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
@@ -591,6 +591,7 @@ int main(int ac, char **av)
 			conf_read_simple(name, S_DEF_USER);
 		else if (!stat("all.config", &tmpstat))
 			conf_read_simple("all.config", S_DEF_USER);
+		conf_set_env_sym("K64BIT", "64BIT", S_DEF_USER);
 		break;
 	default:
 		break;