diff --git a/configure.py b/configure.py
index 3ac700c86c3482..232806170a0c3b 100755
--- a/configure.py
+++ b/configure.py
@@ -173,6 +173,11 @@
     dest='openssl_fips',
     help='Build OpenSSL using FIPS canister .o file in supplied folder')
 
+parser.add_option('--openssl-is-fips',
+    action='store_true',
+    dest='openssl_is_fips',
+    help='specifies that the OpenSSL library is FIPS compatible')
+
 parser.add_option('--openssl-use-def-ca-store',
     action='store_true',
     dest='use_openssl_ca_store',
@@ -1190,6 +1195,7 @@ def configure_openssl(o):
   variables = o['variables']
   variables['node_use_openssl'] = b(not options.without_ssl)
   variables['node_shared_openssl'] = b(options.shared_openssl)
+  variables['openssl_is_fips'] = b(options.openssl_is_fips)
   variables['openssl_fips'] = ''
 
   if options.openssl_no_asm:
diff --git a/node.gypi b/node.gypi
index 13886faf80985f..689138c15b5705 100644
--- a/node.gypi
+++ b/node.gypi
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@
     [ 'node_use_openssl=="true"', {
       'defines': [ 'HAVE_OPENSSL=1' ],
       'conditions': [
-        ['openssl_fips != ""', {
+        ['openssl_fips != "" or openssl_is_fips=="true"', {
           'defines': [ 'NODE_FIPS_MODE' ],
         }],
         [ 'node_shared_openssl=="false"', {