diff --git a/README b/README
index 9d7071d..3f80c7e 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ It includes a variety of default values:
 * DEFAULT_PLATFORM
 * DEFAULT_COMPILER
 
+A user specific configuration file $HOME/.sit" can be used to overwrite the 
+settings in the global configuration file.
+
 The installation process is currently controled with the following environment 
 variables:
 * COMPILER
diff --git a/sit b/sit
index 956c4f1..8a19b20 100755
--- a/sit
+++ b/sit
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ set -e
 
 SIT_PATH=$(dirname $PWD/$0)
 SIT_CONFIG_FILE=$SIT_PATH/etc/sit.conf
+SIT_USER_CONFIG_FILE=$HOME/.sit
 
+# Reading in user configuration file if it exists
+if [[ -e $SIT_USER_CONFIG_FILE ]] ; then
+    source $SIT_USER_CONFIG_FILE
+fi
 # Reading in global configuration file
 if [[ -e $SIT_CONFIG_FILE ]] ; then
     source $SIT_CONFIG_FILE