diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 5bef7c3d2..919dd1d0a 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ function usage()
 	echo "                           example: /usr/share/dpdk/x86_64-default-linuxapp-gcc"
 	echo " fio                       Required to build fio_plugin."
 	echo "                           example: /usr/src/fio"
+	echo " vhost                     Required to build vhost target."
+	echo "                           No path required."
 	echo " virtio                    Required to build vhost initiator (Virtio) bdev module."
 	echo "                           No path required."
 	echo " nvml                      Required to build persistent memory bdev."
@@ -138,6 +140,12 @@ for i in "$@"; do
 		--without-dpdk)
 			CONFIG_DPDK_DIR=
 			;;
+		--with-vhost)
+			CONFIG_VHOST=y
+			;;
+		--without-vhost)
+			CONFIG_VHOST=n
+			;;
 		--with-virtio)
 			CONFIG_VIRTIO=y
 			;;
@@ -271,6 +279,9 @@ fi
 if [ -n "$CONFIG_DPDK_DIR" ]; then
 	echo "CONFIG_DPDK_DIR?=$CONFIG_DPDK_DIR" >> CONFIG.local
 fi
+if [ -n "$CONFIG_VHOST" ]; then
+	echo "CONFIG_VHOST?=$CONFIG_VHOST" >> CONFIG.local
+fi
 if [ -n "$CONFIG_VIRTIO" ]; then
 	echo "CONFIG_VIRTIO?=$CONFIG_VIRTIO" >> CONFIG.local
 fi