diff --git a/pkgfs.conf b/pkgfs.conf
index 2ed5d71876e..ba574887697 100644
--- a/pkgfs.conf
+++ b/pkgfs.conf
@@ -48,3 +48,8 @@ PKGFS_XSTOW_CMD=$PKGFS_MASTERDIR/bin/xstow
 #
 PKGFS_CFLAGS="-O2 -pipe"
 PKGFS_CXXFLAGS="$PKGFS_CFLAGS"
+
+#
+# Number of jobs when running GNU or BSD make style packages.
+#
+#PKGFS_MAKEJOBS=4
diff --git a/pkgfs.sh b/pkgfs.sh
index 5033dd8a4b7..c6e3b3b6f09 100755
--- a/pkgfs.sh
+++ b/pkgfs.sh
@@ -627,11 +627,11 @@ build_tmpl_sources()
 	done
 
 	[ -z "$make_build_target" ] && make_build_target=
-
+	[ -n "$PKGFS_MAKEJOBS" ] && PKGFS_MAKEJOBS="-j$PKGFS_MAKEJOBS"
 	#
 	# Build package via make.
 	#
-	${make_cmd} ${make_build_args} ${make_build_target}
+	${make_cmd} ${PKGFS_MAKEJOBS} ${make_build_args} ${make_build_target}
 	if [ "$?" -ne 0 ]; then
 		echo "*** ERROR building (make stage) \`$pkg' ***"
 		exit 1