diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 671c8165d2..3d99991cd4 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -23,3 +23,6 @@ README.pdf
 
 # build generated files
 /settings.json
+
+# local changes only
+make/local.mk
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 679ec30b41..0c5566236c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ LINKER_DIR      := $(ROOT)/src/main/target/link
 # import macros common to all supported build systems
 include $(ROOT)/make/system-id.mk
 
+# developer preferences, edit these at will, they'll be gitignored
+-include $(ROOT)/make/local.mk
+
 # default xtal value for F4 targets
 HSE_VALUE       = 8000000
 MHZ_VALUE      ?=