diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index f04493f92..2c59457cd 100755
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -97,9 +97,11 @@ class SynapseHomeServer(HomeServer):
         return JsonResource(self)
 
     def build_resource_for_web_client(self):
-        import syweb
-        syweb_path = os.path.dirname(syweb.__file__)
-        webclient_path = os.path.join(syweb_path, "webclient")
+        webclient_path = self.get_config().web_client_location
+        if not webclient_path:
+            import syweb
+            syweb_path = os.path.dirname(syweb.__file__)
+            webclient_path = os.path.join(syweb_path, "webclient")
         # GZip is disabled here due to
         # https://twistedmatrix.com/trac/ticket/7678
         # (It can stay enabled for the API resources: they call
diff --git a/synapse/config/server.py b/synapse/config/server.py
index f9a3b5f15..a03e55c22 100644
--- a/synapse/config/server.py
+++ b/synapse/config/server.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ class ServerConfig(Config):
         self.server_name = config["server_name"]
         self.pid_file = self.abspath(config.get("pid_file"))
         self.web_client = config["web_client"]
+        self.web_client_location = config.get("web_client_location", None)
         self.soft_file_limit = config["soft_file_limit"]
         self.daemonize = config.get("daemonize")
         self.print_pidfile = config.get("print_pidfile")